Biographical note

Diane R. Gehart is a professor in the marriage, family and therapy and counseling programs at California State University, Northridge and the founder of the Therapy that Works Institute. She has authored numerous books, including CASE DOCUMENTATION IN COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY, THEORY AND TREATMENT PLANNING IN COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY, MINDFULNESS AND ACCEPTANCE IN COUPLE AND FAMILY THERAPY, and MASTERING COMPETENCIES IN FAMILY THERAPY. In addition to co-editing COLLABORATIVE THERAPY: RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE and COLLABORATIVE-DIALOGIC PRACTICE: RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSATIONS ACROSS CULTURES AND CONTEXTS, Dr. Gehart has developed two systems for assessing student learning: THE COMPLETE MFT CORE COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM and THE COMPLETE COUNSELING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM. Her areas of specialty include mindfulness, mental health recovery, postmodern and systemic therapies, sexual abuse treatment, gender issues, children and adolescents, client advocacy, qualitative research and education in family therapy. She speaks internationally, having conducted workshops to professional and general audiences in the United States, Canada, Europe and Mexico, and her work has been featured in newspapers, radio shows and television worldwide. Dr. Gehart is an associate faculty member at three international postgraduate training institutes: The Taos Institute, Houston Galveston Institute and The Marburg Institute for Collaborative Studies in Germany. Additionally, she is an active leader in state and national professional organizations. Dr. Gehart maintains a private practice in Agoura Hills, California, specializing in couples, families, trauma, life transitions and difficult-to-treat cases.