Dawn M. Hughes

Dawn M. Hughes, Ph.D., ABPP, is a clinical and forensic psychologist in New York City who specializes in the assessment and treatment of interpersonal violence, traumatic stress, PTSD, the anxiety disorders, and women's mental health. Dr. Hughes maintains an independent practice in clinical and forensic psychology in New York City. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University - New York Presbyterian Hospital where she supervises and conducts clinical trainings for interns. Dr. Hughes is Board Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and is licensed to practice in the States of New York, Connecticut, and North Carolina.

Dr. Hughes has a number of publications and professional presentations in the field of psychological trauma. She has conducted research studies examining the various characteristics of adult survivors of sexual abuse and has published articles on delayed memories in adulthood for childhood sexual abuse experiences. In addition, Dr. Hughes has a number of invited presentations in the area of intimate partner violence (domestic violence), coercive control, and related trauma; has conducted trainings for the Courts, Judges and attorneys; has taught members of the National Guard on how to practice healthy and violence-free relationships; and conducted trainings to mental health professionals, in both clinical and forensic settings, to work within the area of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, and PTSD. Dr. Hughes has treated and/or evaluated hundreds of individuals who have experienced sexual victimization, childhood abuse, and/or abuse and violence in an intimate relationship. Dr. Hughes holds distinctions and membership in numerous professional organizations, including the Trauma Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association and the NYC-based Women’s Mental Health Consortium, an interdisciplinary group focused on the treatment of women’s mental health across the lifespan.

Dr. Hughes's forensic work involves comprehensive psychological evaluations, attorney consultations, and expert witness testimony in the area of forensic psychology, interpersonal violence, and traumatic stress. She has been admitted as an expert witness in the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and in United States District Court for the Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of New York. She has served as an expert witness in numerous criminal cases involving battered women who have killed their abusive partners and childhood sexual abuse survivors who have acted out violently against their perpetrators. She has consulted on hundreds of criminal and civil cases of involving the multiple and varied psychological and traumatic effects of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, priest abuse, sexual harassment, childhood sexual abuse, cult abuse and indoctrination, wrongful conviction, and other non-interpersonal violence related traumatic experiences.