Renee Leff, LMFT, JD
MFC34345
310.741.6033
Curriculum Vitae
Areas Of Specialization: Preverbal Children: Ages 0-5
High Conflict Divorce and Custody: Parenting Ed and Custody Plans
Law and Ethics
Post GraduateAreas of Special Training: Psychology
Infant Mental Health Specialist Certification; Ages 0-5: April,2012/ U of Mass/ Drs. E. Tronick & Dr. K. Brandt
Advanced Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Treatment of Trauma, Pat Ogden, Ph.D: 2007-2010
Advanced Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Treatment of Developmental and Character Strategies, Pat Ogden Ph.D
Neuroscience and Attachment Theory: Allan Schore, Ph.D, 2008-ongoing
Interpersonal Neurobiology And Attachment: Daniel Siegel, M.D, 2005-2008
Divorce, Mediation & Parental Alienation: Psycho-Legal Associates, 2003
Domestic Violence & Child Abuse Assessment: Psycho-Legal Associates, 2003
Psychological Testing & Expert Testimony: Psycho-Legal Associates, 2003
Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis:
Psychoanalytical Foundations: Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis: 2004
Two year Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificated Program: Children and Divorce: 2005,2006
One year Advanced Class: 2006
Board Certified Diplomate Fellow in Forensic Science: International College of Professional Psychology; 2000
Phillips Graduate Institute: Masters of Arts Degree; Marriage and Family Therapy
Law Southwestern University School of Law
Juris Doctor Degree
Los Angeles, California
English University of California, Los Angeles
Independent Study; Dr. J. Taylor,
Education California Lutheran College
Secondary Administrative Credential
State Department of Education,
Standard Life Credential
Undergraduate: University Of Illinois
California State University, Los Angeles,
Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, History
PAST PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE
Phillips Graduate Institute, Adjunct Faculty, Chatsworth, CA
Family Law
California State University, Northridge, Adjunct Faculty
Law and Ethics
Maple Counseling Center/ Supervisor, Beverly Hills, California
Northridge Psychiatric Medical Group
Dr. Hyman Weiland, M.D., Ph.D., Supervisor
Phillips Graduate Institute
Dr. Les Forman, Ph.D., Supervisor,
Northridge Hosp. Adolescent Psych
Miller Memorial Children’s Hospital
Long Beach Memorial Hospital
Dr. Carolyn Cunningham, Supervisor
Glendale Family Service
Dr. Sharon Lavin
Additional Psych/Legal Employment:
Evaluations, Treatment, Reports, Expert Testimony
Family Law Reports/Declarations/Child Custody Mediation/ Parenting Plans
Child Custody 730 Evaluation Preparation
Parent/Child Re-Unification/ Parental Alienation
Phillips Graduate Institute: Adjunct Faculty / Family Law
Maple Center Family Counseling / Beverly Hills, CA.: Supervisor
International College of Professional Psychology: Forensic Presentations
Teaching
Phillips Graduate Institute
Family Law; Law and Ethics, Applied Therapeutic Methodology, Case Conference
California State University, Northridge
Law and Ethics
Northridge, CaliforniaCal State University, Northridge
UCLA: Guest Lecturer/ Dr. Walter Brackelsmann
Los Angeles Community College: Evidence and Criminal Law
Los Angeles Unified School District: English, Social Studies, Law
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Past President of San Fernando Valley Chapter of California Association of California Marriage & Family Therapists
Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association
Coalition of Collaborative Divorce California Chapter of the Association of
Family and Conciliation Court Association
American Family Conciliation Court Association California Chairperson of the International College of Professional Psychologist
Phillips Graduate Alumni Association
PROFESSIONAL HONORS
Undergraduate Dean’s List
Marshall Mc Comb Scholarship:
Southwestern University College of Law
Legislative Community Chairperson
Alternative Education; Sacramento,
Director: Van Nuys Community Law Program
Board of Directors, Mission College
Past President, San Fernando Valley Chapter of
California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists
Board of Directors: Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association
California Chairperson for International College of Professional Psychologists
PUBLICATIONS
PROGRESS: Family Systems Research and Therapy, “Joint Custody, Impact on Women”, 1995
Daily Journal, “Hanging On To Your Assets: How To Keep Your Money From Flying Away, August 31, 2001
Connections,A Publication of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, “Joint Custody Moms”
Bar Notes, “A Publication of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, “A New Alternative To Custody Resolutions”, March, 2004
Daily Journal, “Collaborative Mediation Solves Custody Disputes”, August 18,2005
Connections: San Fernando Section of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, “An Alternative to Traditional Child Custody Litigation:
Bar Notes: A Publication of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, “High Conflict Couples Can Co-Parent Successfully”. June. 2007
Bar Notes: A Publication of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, “Co-Parenting vs Parallel Parenting: Which Strategy Should be Implemented In Family Law Custody Disputes’, May, 2009
Valley Lawyer, A Publication of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association: When A Parent Moves Away, August 2010
Daily Journal, Child Custody: Should The Pendulum Swing Back to the Caregiver?, Jan 25, 2012
Valley Lawyer, In press: Recent Findings in Neuroscience and Attachment Theory :Implications For Children Of Divorce
Recent Presentations : 2008/2009, 2010
February, 2008: Divorce Coaching and It’s Implications for High Conflict Couples
April, 2008: Law and Ethics From An Experiential Perspective: Phillips Graduate Institute
May, 2008: Divorce With High Conflict Couples, Maple Counseling Center, Beverly Hills, CA.
June, 2008: Law and Ethics: Creativity and Madness Seminar; Santa Fe, New Mexico
April, 2009: Collaborative Practice, California: Celebration IV: Statewide Conference
Foreclosure, Forbearance, Bankruptcy, and the Impact on Family Law Divorce
June, 2009 The Impact of High Conflict Divorce Upon Children Maple Counseling Center, Beverly Hills
June, 2009: Legal and Ethical Dilemmas for the MHP in the Arena of Family Law, UCLA
August 2010 “Mastering The Art of Co-Parenting”, presented to Minor’s Counsel: Minors At Risk,
August 2013-2016, Best Practices in Law and Ethics, American Institute for Medical Ed, Santa Fe, NM
March, 2013, How People Change; Relationships in Psychotherapy, UCLA Extension
July, 2013, Merger of Professional Ethics and Best Practices in Psychotherapy, Santa Fe, NM American Institute of Medical Education
November, 2013, DSM-5 Update, Psycho-Legal Associates, National U, Woodland Hillls, CA
July, 2014, Professional Ethics in Clinical Practice, Am. Institute of Medical Ed, Santa Fe, NM
September, 2014, 35thAnnual Child Custody Colloquium, Universal City, CA.
December, 2014, “ Seniors and the Implications of Divorce”, Pasadena, CA.
February, 2015, Inventing the Future, Getting Ahead of the Curve, AFCC, Costa Mesa, C
March, 2015, Law and Ethics; Legal and Ethical Dilemmas, West L.A., CA.
July, 2014, “Law and Ethics Workshop: Creativity and Madness, Santa Fe, New Mexico
July, 2015, “Law and Ethics Workshop: Creativity and Madness, Santa Fe, New Mexico
October, 2015, 37thAnnual Child Custody Colloquium, Universal City, CA.
October, 2015, Neuroscience and Society, Korn Hall, Univerisity of California, Los Angeles
July, 2016, “Professional Ethics Best Practices and the Law in Psychotherapy
American Institute of Medical Education, Santa Fe, New Mexico
February, 2017, Healing Attachment Trauma, American Jewish U, Los Angeles, CA.
March, 2017, Well Being: Transformation Through the Lifespan, UCLA, L.A. CA.
May, 2018, Center for Story and Symbol, Suicide and Law and Ethics
August, 2018, Neuroscience and the Brain
February, 22-24, 2019, AFCC Annual Conference, When Civility Breaks Down
February 22, 2019, Current Developments in Domestic Violence
February 22, 2019, When Civility Breaks Down in Relationships
February 23, 2019, Therapeutic Apologies in the Context of Strained Parent-Child Relationship
February 23, 2019, Digital Media, Children, and Families
February 23, 2019, The Opioid Crisis, Substance Abuse and Treatment Alternatives
February 23, 2019, Overcoming Righteous Indignation and Accusatory Suffering
February 24, 2019 The evolution of Family Law and Parenting Evaluation
February 24, 2019, Addressing the Burden of Proving Abuse under the DVPA
March 2, 2019, Exploring the Concepts of Power and Oppression, Los Angeles County Psych Asso
March 8, 2019, Law and Ethics: Client Welfare and Therapist Responsibility
Supplemental Trainings and Consultation Group
2019: Ongoing High Conflict Consultation Group
2018: Ongoing: High Conflict Consultation Group: High Conflict Custody Issues
Parent Re-unification, etc
2015, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Newport Beach, CA.
2015, Navigating Legal Obstacles and Ethical Dilemmas. Los Angeles, CA
2014: Seminar on the DSM V; Seminar on Love Across the Lifespan, Neuroscientifically, Allan Schore
2013: High Conflict Consultation Group, Neuroscience Group, Infant Mental Health Group
2011-2012: Certification April 2012: Infant Mental Health: U/Mass, Ed Tronick, MD/ Dr. Brandt
2011-2012-ongoing: High Conflict Consultation Group: monthly consultation in the area of child custody
2008-2012-ongoing: Neuroscience: bi-monthly study group with Allan Schore, Ph.D.
2011-2012-ongoing: Infant Mental Health Consultation Group: monthly meeting led by Constance Lillas, Ph.D., LMFT, RN
2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 (Presenter) 2012 Association of Family Conciliation Court Trainings
2007-2011:Practice Group: A small group consisting of family law attorneys, mental health professionals and financial experts- in short, an interdisciplinary group of professionals who deal with the various aspects of divorce, meets monthly.
2007-2010: Advanced Developmental and Trauma Training with an Attachment Perspective: Pat Ogden, Ph.D.
2005-2008: Neuroscience and Attachment: monthly study group on attachment and neuroscience, led by Daniel Siegel, M.D.
2005-2006: Two Year Certification: Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy; Emphasis on Attachment, Trauma & Divorce; Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis
2004-2005: Psychoanalytic Foundations: Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis
2003: Divorce, Mediation, & Parental Alienation, Psycho-Legal Associates
2003: Domestic Violence & Child Sexual Abuse Assessment, Psycho-Legal Associates
2003: Psychological Testing & Expert Testimony, Psycho-Legal Associates
2002: 20 Hour Child Custody Training For Rule 11257.4
2000: Certification for Diplomat Fellow in Forensic Science; ICP
Contact Renee Leff, J.D. LMFT for: Documents in Support of Vita, References,Explanations of Additional Advanced Trainings, Education, and Experience