Biography
Basilica of origin, Dr. Danna Abraham started her work as a clinical psychologist before becoming a family therapist. As an educator and researcher, her work lives at the intersection of relational ethics, feminist inquiry, and community-engaged scholarship. She is particularly interested in the experiences that often remain at the margins of professional discourse, including institutional inequities, gendered forms of asymmetries, immigrant experiences, socioeconomic barriers to care, and the relational consequences of public policy.
As Director of the Research Initiative for Storytelling Engagement (RISE Lab) , Dr. Abraham collaborates with students to examine how stories shape relationships, institutions, and opportunities for social change. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Clinical Fellow, COAMFTE Site Visitor, and serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Systemic Therapy.
Professional Interests
- Narrative practices
- Supervision & Pedagogy
- Community-based research
- Quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Animal-assisted interventions
Education and Certifications
- 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
Courses
- Diversity and the Family
- MFT Theories and Techniques 1
- MFT Practicum
- MFT Assessment
- Group Therapy
- MFT Theories and Techniques 2
- Advanced Statistics 1
- MFT Research Methods
- Internship Supervision
- Supervision in MFT
- Advanced Quantitative Methods
Scholarship and Contributions to the Field
- “Abraham, D., & Rajaei, A. (2026). “She Can’t Teach, but Nice Legs…”: A Qualitative Study of Gendered Student Evaluation of Teaching in Marriage and Family Therapy. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2026.2706268
- Abraham, D., Warren, H., & Rajaei, A. (2026). The Reputation Tour: A Cartography of Feminist Resistance. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2026.2706270
- Abraham, D. & Abraham, D. (2026). Aesthetics of Co-ordination: On Behalf of a Kinder Reply. Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 10(1), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.28963/10.1.4
- Abraham, D. (2026). Insights from community-engaged research as ethical relational practice. In Sage Research Methods: Inclusive Research Methodologies. SAGE Publications, Ltd., https://doi.org/10.4135/9781036251727
- Abraham, D., Distelberg, B., Ewing, J., Lopez, L., Zephon, L., & Ochoa, S. (2025). Relationships for social change: The value of the promotora framework in navigating employment systems. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70000
- Abraham, D., & Abraham, T. (2025). Sharp edges led us here. Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 8(1), 13–19. https://doi.org/10.28963/8.3
- Abraham, D., & Rajaei, A. (2024). Do You Trust Broken Mirrors? Confronting Structural Inequalities in Student Evaluations of Teaching in Higher Education. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2024.2420502
- Abraham, D. (2024). Towards a heart-centred philosophy: Embracing poetry as transformative practice. Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice, 7(1),102-109. https://doi.org/10.28963/7.1.9
- Abraham, D. (2026). When family therapists go back home to their families: Notes from an autoethnographic practice. Family Therapy Magazine. AAMFT Sponsored.
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.