Jeanne Safer, PhD is a psychotherapist who has been in private practice for thirty-five years and the author of four thought-provoking books on neglected psychological topics. Her special areas of expertise include adults coping with the death of their parents, siblings of the mentally and physically ill, and women who are making a choice whether to be mothers or who have chosen not to have children. Former Director of Research, Supervisor and Faculty Member at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, Dr. Safer lectures on transformation in midlife, the experience of “Normal” siblings, and alternatives to forgiveness.

She has appeared on television (“The Today Show”, “Good Morning America”) and as a psychological expert on “The Montel Williams Show”, on radio (NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and “The Diane Rehm Show”), and has contributed articles to O:The Oprah Magazine, More Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post and other publications. She has written three previous books: The Normal One: Life with a Difficult or Damaged Sibling, Beyond Motherhood: Choosing a Life Without Children, and Forgiving and Not Forgiving: Why Sometimes It’s Better NOT to Forgive. Both The Normal One and Beyond Motherhood were finalists in the Books for a Better Life Award for the year’s best self-improvement books.

Dr. Safer lives in New York City with her husband, historian and political journalist Richard Brookhiser.