As a light brown-skinned female who immigrated from Brazil, Danna arrived in the United States with many hopes for the future. As a young clinician, she was drawn even further towards her commitments to the community when she developed a particular interest in examining what kind of knowledges informed psychological practices. As these ideas solidified, she embraced aspects of therapy that invited people to broaden the ways they think about themselves and others. Once she obtained an MFT licensure in California, she worked closely with the LatinX community at a local children’s hospital in San Diego where she was privileged to witness the perseverance of families seeking her help in the face of adversity and life constraints.
Her clinical work focused on helping children and adolescents who experienced self-harm and suicidal behaviors. Working on the behavioral health frontlines with economically disadvantaged families sparked her interest in pursuing her doctoral studies. Without reservations, she made the commitment to diversity and social equity extended to supporting young therapists in a mentorship role. As an AAMFT-approved supervisor, she dedicated her time to help students and interns focusing on culturally sensitive practices as well as providing supervision in English and Spanish. In her teaching, she attempts to recapture the essence of relational ethics between learner and mentor. She hopes that the considerations and efforts to reverse traditional hierarchical roles in academia can offer new possibilities in a sacred space of learning where the importance of examining our own values/ethics facilitate conversations for rich and equity-based learning.
Dr. Abraham is the director of the Research Initiative for Storytelling Engagement (RISE) Lab. She is committed to explore structural gender inequalities in higher education. www.theriselab.com
- Narrative practices
- Supervision & Pedagogy
- Community-based research
- Quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Animal-assisted interventions
- Education 1: PhD, Loma Linda University
- Education 2: M.S in Counseling, San Diego State University
- Education 3: B.S in Psychology, University of Fortaleza
Credentials and Certifications
- AAMFT Approved Supervisor (2017)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (2013)
- Peace Officer with 5150 Certification, San Diego County Behavioral Health Agency (2015). San Diego, CA
- Certification in Emergency Services Approved Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Training (2009). San Diego, CA
- Animal-Assisted Interventions, PESI (2015). San Diego, CA
- Conflict Resolution Certificate, National Conflict Resolution Center (2008). Rimini, Italy
Honors
- 2020 Research Excellence Award - Loma Linda University
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Diversity and the Family
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MFT Theories and Techniques 1
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MFT Practicum
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MFT Assessment
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Group Therapy
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MFT Theories and Techniques 2
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Advanced Statistics 1
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MFT Research Methods
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Internship Supervision
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Supervision in MFT
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Advanced Quantitative Methods
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Abraham, D. (2024, in press). Therapy tales from Dominic the pit. Mascot Books.
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Abraham, D. (2023). Have you received the gift of adversity this season? Op – Ed. San Diego Union Tribune. San Diego, CA.
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Abraham, D. (2024, Feb). I am brave enough... to claim my space. Invited Presentation Regional Student Diversity Summit. Bishop High School. Feb 4th, 2024. San Diego, Ca.
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Abraham, D. (2024, Apr). Re-politicizing MFT Education & Practice. 50 year Anniversary CFT program. Alliant International University. Invited Presentation. Systemwide.
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Abraham, D. (2023, Oct). Reimaging Family Therapy through Research and Practice. Invited Speaker. AAMFT Virtual Systemic Family Therapy Conference. Sponsored by AAMFT.
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Abraham, D., Chandler, D., DeGraff, A., Fontus, F., Osborne, K. R., Somo, C. M., & Walsdorf, A. A. (2023, May). The race between us: Exploring justice and relational ethics through “race talks.” Workshop presented at the International Conference on Contextual Therapy 2023 (ICCT2023) in Long Beach, CA.
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Abraham, D. (2023). Exploring adversity and its value in your story development. Regional Student Diversity Summit. Bishop High School. Feb 4th, 2023. San Diego, Ca.
- Carter, D. & Carlson, T. (2021). "Narrative Supervision as Counterstory Development." Journal of Narrative Family Therapy.
- Distelberg, B., Carter, D., Ochoa, S. (2021). "The Golden Apartments Permanent Housing Program Baseline Report." The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino.
- Carter, D. (2020). "Witness to Witness Psychosocial Support Pilot Study Program Evaluation." Migrant Clinician Network. (Report No. 1).
- Distelberg, B., Carter, D., & Ochoa, S. (2020). "No Child Left Unsheltered (NCLU)." The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (Report No. 5).
- Distelberg, B., & Carter, D. (2019). "Maplewood Report: A community needs assessment." The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (Report No. 2).
- Distelberg, B., Carter, D., & Ochoa, S. (2019). "No Child Left Unsheltered (NCLU) study report." The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (Report No. 4).
- Distelberg, B, Carter, D.,(2018) "Launch Initiative Report." Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP). (Report No. 1).
Presentations
- Carter, D., & Carlson, T. (2021, Accepted Presentation). Narrative Supervision as a Counter Story Development: Embracing relational knowledge and personal experience. 43rd Annual AFTA Conference 1st Virtual Conference.
- Carter, D., & Distelberg, B. (2020, Accepted Presentation). No Child Left Unsheltered: Examining the politics of navigating the systems of homelessness. Annual AFTA conference, Alexandria, VA.
- Carter, D., & Carlson, T. (2020, Accepted Presentation). Narrative Supervision as a Counter Story Development: Embracing relational knowledge and personal experience. Annual AFTA Conference, Alexandria, VA.
- Carter, D., & Distelberg, B. (2019, November). Relationships for social change: A Longitudinal Examination of a Promotora-led program for Socioeconomic Mobility. Poster 2019 NCFR Conference, Fort Worth, TX.
- Carter, D. (2019, November). Advancing Culturally Responsiveness practices. Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
- Carter, D. (2019, June). Relationships for Social Change. Annual AFTA Conference, Oakland, CA.
- Carter, D. (2016, September). All you wanted to know about 504's and IEPs and the Educational Mental Health Services in Schools. Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA.
- Grame, T., & Carter, D. (2015, May) Addressing compassion fatigue in the work environment. Rady Children's Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry All Staff Seminar. San Diego, CA.
- Carter, D. (2015, June). All you wanted to know about 504's and IEPs and the Educational Mental Health Services in Schools. Rady Children's Hospital, Outpatient Psychiatry, North Inland. In-Service, San Diego, CA.
- Carter, D. (2014, June). Integrating technology in psychotherapy interventions. Rady Children's Hospital, Outpatient Psychiatry, North Inland/North Coastal in Service, San Diego, CA.