About Dr. Perlman

Welcome! I’m Dr. Carol Perlman, a consultant and habit coach teaching clients how to maximize their productivity and optimize work-life balance.

I always knew I would work in the field of Psychology. After majoring in Psychology at Emory University, I enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Miami. I was interested in the connection between carbohydrates and mood (a topic very few people were investigating at the time) and conducted elaborate studies of the connection between lifestyle behaviors and habits such as sleep, exercise, and diet, and mood/well-being. While I enjoyed the research side of this work, I ultimately wanted to work directly with clients and help them apply the research to create healthier habits for wellness.

I spent the first part of my career in academic medical settings where I continued to conduct research and work directly with clients. I had the honor of working alongside talented and internationally-recognized leaders in the field at multiple Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University Department of Psychology.

While at MGH I was invited to help develop and research a program for adults with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This ultimately led to the publication of our book Mastering Your Adult ADHD. Since then we have taught hundreds of clients the skills in this program through individual and group sessions.

In 2005 I opened a private practice and have spent the last two decades working directly with clients, many of whom struggle with adult ADHD, executive functioning and health habits. While this work was powerful, I always felt that I could be even more helpful if I could support clients in between sessions with daily reminders, encouragement, and accountability. This was not possible with the industry standard of weekly sessions.

Meanwhile, the digital world exploded to include online platforms and social media. I realized that I could use my skills in even more impactful ways. In 2014 I established an online habit coaching business, Healthy4Life by Carol Perlman to work with individuals who were looking to improve daily health habits and better manage their weight as well as chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Across patients I saw that creating consistent health habits relied upon strong time management skills and I began to incorporate this training into my health coaching.

What I saw happening in the medical field was that doctors would prescribe a lifestyle change such as increasing daily exercise or modifying diet, but they did not have the time or training to help clients make this changes among all of their daily life challenges. I knew I could utilize my knowledge of behavior and habit change strategies and help clients succeed with their doctor’s recommended changes.

I began creating online courses to teach larger groups HOW to create habits for improved productivity and wellness. In 2020 I launched a consulting practice to help employees and teams achieve greater work-life balance and improve employee engagement and retention through better time management practices.

These days, I divide my time between individual and executive coaching, consulting to teams, podcasting, and adding to my library of online courses centered around time management practices. Outside of work, you will find me spending time with my husband and two teenage boys, on the tennis and pickleball court, reading, cooking, writing in journals and planners, and relaxing on the beach… my happy place.

I look forward to working with you. Email me to set up a FREE discovery call.

-Carol Perlman, Ph.D.

Email Dr. Perlman

Carol Perlman, Ph.D.

High-Performance Consultant and Coach

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Credentials

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Health Service Provider, MA PY 7932, RI PS02131

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Miami
M.S., Clinical Psychology, University of Miami
B.A., Emory University (Magna Cum Laude in Psychology)
Boston University Psychology Internship Program
(London, England)

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Staff Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program & General (Bariatric) Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

Owner, Carol Perlman, Ph.D., P.C., Franklin, MA

Owner, Healthy 4 Life by Carol Perlman, Franklin, MA

Staff Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Assistant Director/PostDoctoral Fellow, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center, Bedford, MA

Psychology Intern, Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology (APA accredited), Boston, MA

Psychotherapist, University of Miami Psychological Services Center, Coral Gables, FL

Staff Clinician, Psychsolutions, Miami, FL

Intake Coordinator. The Hub Counseling and Education Center, Tucker, GA

Crisis Counselor, Emory University Helpline, Atlanta, GA

Staff Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

Owner, Carol Perlman,Ph.D., P.C., Franklin, MA

Owner/Health Coach, Healthy4Life by Carol Perlman, Franklin, MA

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Instructor in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Center for Anxiety and Traumatic& Stress Related Disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Project Director, Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Clinical Specialist, Harvard Bipolar Research Program, Boston, MA

Clinical Fellow, Schizophrenia Research Program, Freedom Trail Clinic, Boston, MA

Project Coordinator, Treatment and Research Program for Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Miami, FL

Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Tufts University, Boston, MA
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bedford, MA
Emerson College, Boston, MA
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Massachusetts Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
(Division of Clinical Psychology, Division of Psychologists in Independent Practice)
Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

Publications

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Safren, S., Sprich, S., Perlman, C., & Otto, M. (2017). Mastery of your adult ADHD: A cognitive behavioral treatment program, 2nd edition. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.

Safren, S., Sprich, S., Otto, M., Perlman, C. (2017). Therapist guide to mastery of your adult ADHD: A cognitive behavioral treatment program, 2nd edition. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.

Safren, S., Duran P., Yovel I, Perlman C., Sprich S. (2007). Medication Adherence in psychoparmacologically treaded adults with ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders, Feb;10(3):257-60.

Safren, S., Perlman, C., Sprich, S., Otto, M. (2005). Therapist guide to mastery of your adult ADHD: A cognitive behavioral treatment program. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.

Safren, S., Otto, M., Sprich, S., Perlman, C., Wilens, T., & Biederman, J. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(7), 831-842.

Safren, S., Sprich, S., Perlman, C., Otto, M. (2005). Mastery of your adult ADHD: A cognitive behavioral treatment program. New York, New York: Oxford University Press.

Bipolar Disorder

Perlman, C., Johnson, S., & Mellman, T. (2006). The prospective impact of sleep duration on depression and mania. Bipolar Disorders, Jun; 8(3): 271-4.

Johnson, S., Cueller, A., Ruggero, C., Perlman, C., Goodnick, P., White, R., Miller, I. (2008). Life events as predictors of mania and depression in bipolar 1 disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, May 117(2): 268-277.

Depression

Kamholz, B. W., Hayes, A. M., Carver, C. S., Gulliver, S. B., & Perlman, C. A. (2006). Identification and evaluation of cognitive affect regulation strategies: Development of a new self-report measure. Cognitive Therapy and Research, volume 30, pages227–262.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Otto, M., Reilly-Harrington, N., Kogan, J., & Winett, C. (2003). Treatment contracting in cognitive-behavior Therapy. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 10(3), Summer.

Childhood Sexual Abuse

McNally, R., Perlman, C.A., & Ristuccia, C. (2006). Memory for autobiographical facts and events in adults reporting continuous or recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Apr 74(2):237-42.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Otto, M. W., Perlman, C. A., Wernicke, R., Reese, H. E., Bauer, M. S., & Pollack, M. H. (2004). Posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with bipolar disorder: A review of prevalence, correlates, and treatment strategies. Bipolar Disorders, 6, 470-479.

Pollack, M.H., Otto, M.W., Fagiolini, A, Simon, N.M., Pitman, R., McNally, R., Wisniewski, S., Sachs, G., Perlman, C.A., Ghaemi, N., Thase, M., Nierenberg, A. Persistent PTSD in bipolar patients following September 11th (under review).

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Safren, S.A., Otto, M.W., Sprich, S., Perlman, C., Wilens, T. &Biederman, J. (2004, November). CBT for residual ADHD in adults. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Safren, S.A., Otto, M.W. , Sprich, S., Perlman, C., Wilens, T. & Biederman, J. (2004, May). CBT for residual ADHD in adults. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New York , New York.

Perlman, C., Safren, S., Sprich, S., Chulvick, S., Wilens, T., Biederman, J., & Otto, M. (2003, November). Medication adherence and symptom severity in medication – treated adults with ADHD. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Sprich, S., Safren, S., Perlman, C., Chulvick, S., Wilens, T., Biederman, J., & Otto, M. (2003, November). Functional impairments and quality of life in medication –treated Adults with ADHD. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Bipolar Disorder

Johnson, S.L., Kizer, A., Ruggero, C., Perlman, C.A., Goodnick, P., Miller, I. (2004, September). Life events as a predictor of mania and depression. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Otto, M., Pollack, M., Henin, A., Perlman, C., Hirshfeld-Becker, D., Reese, H., Biederman, J., Sachs, G., & Rosenbaum, J. (2003, November). September 11 and vulnerable populations: Predictors of PTSD symptoms in response to indirect exposure to trauma. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts.

Winett, C., Johnson, S., & Mellman, T. (2001, November). The connection between life events, insomnia, and depression and mania: Implications for cognitive behavioral therapy. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Winett, C., Johnson, S., & Mellman, T. (2001, June). The short- and long- term impact of insomnia on depression and mania. Poster presented at the Fourth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Johnson, S., Meyer, B., Winett, C., & Small, J. (1999, October). Social support, self-esteem, and the course of bipolar disorder. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Clinical Psychosocial Research, Boston, MA.

Johnson, S., Meyer, B., & Winett, C. (1999, June). A polarity-specific model of psychosocial factors and the course of bipolar disorder. Paper presented at the Third International Bipolar Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

Johnson, S., Winett, C., & Mellman, T. (1998, November). The role of sleep in bipolar disorder. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research in Psychopathology, Boston, MA.

Rosenberg, D., Winett, C., & Johnson, S. (1998, November). An examination of the recovery definition in bipolar disorder. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research in Psychopathology, Boston, MA.

Winett, C., & Johnson, S. (1998, November). The role of social support on social and occupational functioning in bipolar disorder. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Washington, D.C.

Johnson, S., Winett, C., Meyer, B., & Fingerhut, R. (1998, November). Vulnerability to life events in bipolar disorder. Presentation as part of Biopsychosocial Approaches to Course and Treatment in Bipolar Disorder, Chairpersons: Sheri Johnson and David Miklowitz. The annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, Washington, D.C.

Johnson, S., Winett, C., Meyer, B., Miller, I., Keitner, G., Ryan, C., & Solomon, D. (1997, November). The impact of psychosocial factors on course in bipolar disorder. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Miami, FL.

Winett, C. & Johnson, S. (1997, October). The differential impact of components of social support on changes in symptom severity in bipolar disorder. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research in Psychopathology, Palm Springs, CA.

Winett, C., Johnson, S., & Miller, I. (1996, October). The relation between life events, social support, and time to recovery in bipolar disorder. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research in Psychopathology, Atlanta, GA.

Depression

Hayes, A.M., Laurenceau, J.P., Feldman, G., Beevers, C., & Perlman, C.A. (2004, November). Do the principles of exposure apply to the treatment of depression? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Wolfsdorf, B., Hayes, A., Winett, C., & Steffen, P. (1999, November). Early maladaptive schemas, mood, and coping. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Toronto, Canada.

Winett, C., Hayes, A., Wolfsdorf, B., & Steffen, P. (1998, November). The role of social rhythms and healthy exercise, sleep, and diet patterns in depressive symtomatology, depressed mood, and psychological well-being. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Washington, D.C.