Miriam Berkman is a social worker in private clinical practice since 2006.  She completed her clinical training at Smith College School for Social Work in 1991 and then worked as a member of the faculty at the Yale University Child Study Center for 21 years, specializing in childhood exposure to trauma.  At the Child Study Center she worked with children and families affected by sexual abuse, domestic violence, community violence, serious accidents and other traumatic events.   She has extensive training and experience in working with adults and children and in clinical supervision of therapists in training.

 

 

In private practice Ms. Berkman works children age 4 and above, adolescents, adults and couples.  She continues to have a special focus on people affected by traumatic or stressful life events, such as interpersonal violence, divorce and loss.  She also works with individuals and families that are coping with anxiety, depression or family conflict.  She is trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, child development-focused consultation to parents and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.   

 

 

Prior to social work training, Ms. Berkman practiced law for seven years, primarily representing children and families, disabled adults and incarcerated prisoners at Yale’ Law School’s Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization.  This experience led her to realize that she preferred the more contemplative interpersonal nature of clinical work to the argumentative world of the law.  Her legal training remains in the background where it sometimes informs and enhances her clinical work.