Patricia D. Johnson, Psy.D., holds a Doctorate of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology from Ryokan College; her Clinical Case Study dissertation, Biracial Identity Development. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Dr. Johnson is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Professor, Consultant, and Lecturer.
Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on biracial individuals. Dr. Johnson is of dual ethnicity (biracial), Austrian-Hungarian/African American decent. She conducts workshops and classes on the subjects of interracial and biracial issues and is a nationally recognized expert for her work in these areas. Dr. Johnson worked with several multiracial/cultural groups to help bring about categorical changes allowing individuals to identify as being of mixed races on the United States Census.
Dr. Johnson is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) and served as committee member of the AAMFT-CA Outreach Committee; she also served as Chair of the Elections Committee – California Division. Dr. Johnson presented Treating Biracial Individuals & Interracial Families at the Annual AAMFT Conference. She was also a featured speaker at AAMFT’s Millennium Conference. Dr. Johnson is a clinical member of The California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT). She was instrumental in the development of the Los Angeles chapter of CAMFT’s multiracial/cultural committee.
Dr. Johnson’s training includes the Maple Center Mental Health Clinic, Center for the Study of Young People in Groups (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/Thalians Mental Health Hospital), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s TEEN LINE, and Friends Medical Science Research/Matrix Institute on Addiction. At The Matrix Institute on Addiction, Dr. Johnson headed a special treatment track for HIV+ clients addicted to substances and/or alcohol. In addition to her clinical duties at the Institute, she coordinated the position of Benefits and Managed Care Liaison, negotiating with managed care and insurance companies.
Dr. Johnson has made several television appearances as a professional expert, including CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Montel Williams Show, The Leeza Gibbons Show, and The Other Half. She hosted a series for the Discovery Health Channel, Reconcilable Differences. She was frequently heard as an expert on For The Record with Samm Brown, 90.7 KPFK-FM, kpfk.org. Dr. Johnson has consulted for Arnold Shapiro Productions, Jonathan Goodson Productions, LETNOM Productions, Fisher/Merlis Television, Inc., Motown Records, and The Los Angeles Times. She was a magazine staff writer and consultant for Biracial Child and Interrace, as well as the advice columnist for the Internet publication Metisse Magazine.
In conjunction with Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC), Dr. Johnson developed a training program for case management specialists for the Federal and State Kedren Headstart Program. At LATTC, Dr. Johnson worked in the Career/Equity Center as Program Director for Women-In-Trades, programs designed for a more representative gender balance in occupations. Her position at the college included administration, assessment, and interpretation of the Jungian-based Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Career Occupational Preference System (COPS) and various other assessment instruments. She served on the California State Chancellor’s Office Gender Equity Planning Committee, and the Board of Directors for Women In Non-Traditional Employment Roles (W.I.N.T.E.R.). Dr. Johnson was Professor of Psychology at Los Angeles Mission College.
Dr. Johnson continues her lecture engagements and consults for public and private sector companies. Dr. Johnson maintains a private practice in Encino, California.