Dr. Lerner has been called upon by the United Nations Department of Safety & Security to train mental health professionals worldwide in Paris, France, and in New York City; presented for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) as a guest instructor; and consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the wake of September 11th. He launched an emotional wellness initiative at Walgreens and has presented at numerous hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, airlines, small businesses and large corporations, universities and schools, and police and fire departments, both domestically and internationally.

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As a clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr. Lerner has focused on helping people navigate diverse challenges and change and has conducted forensic psychological evaluations for individuals experiencing emotional distress, as well as fitness-for-duty and fitness-to-practice evaluations with healthcare providers.

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Dr. Lerner has consulted with numerous journalists, including Diane Sawyer of Primetime Live, Dennis Murphy of Dateline NBC, and, more recently, Ali Bauman of CBS Evening News and Kaitlan Collins of CNN.

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Over a decade ago, Dr. Lerner mounted the Reality Theatre Production™, SESSIONS with Dr. Mark Lerner, which featured real people sharing real, unscripted stories of overcoming and becoming who they are today.

 

Dr. Lerner is the founding president of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and former chairman of the National Center for Crisis Management. He is the creator of the Acute Traumatic Stress Management (ATSM) intervention model, utilized worldwide. He has authored several books based on this model, including Acute Traumatic Stress Management, Comprehensive Acute Traumatic Stress Management, A Practical Guide for School Crisis Response, and A Practical Guide for University Crisis Response. He has additionally authored It's OK Not To Be OK ... During a Crisis, Surviving & Thriving ... Living Through a Traumatic Experience and CrisisNotes. 

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In November 2025, Dr. Lerner began treatment for Parkinson's disease. He then chose to practice what he preached by sublimating—giving a voice to the unspoken emotional challenges associated with the disease.

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Most recently, Dr. Lerner decided to inspire a new generation of mental health professionals with his dynamic autobiographical presentation, The Greatest Career.

 

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David G. Lerner, LMSW, provides clinical and forensic social work services for Lerner Psychological Services, P.C., remotely and in person. He is regularly engaged in counseling, psychotherapy, and conducting forensic mental health interviews. 

 

He began his career in mental health at The Alliance for Positive Change, a national not-for-profit social service agency. There, he offered counseling services and conducted mental health assessments. David earned his Master’s degree in social work from Fordham University, graduating summa cum laude with over a 3.9 GPA.

 

David's approach to therapy incorporates evidence-based techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and solution-focused brief interventions. By establishing a safe and collaborative environment, he helps individuals of all ages navigate challenging circumstances and explore their goals.

 

Beyond his expertise in social work, David is deeply passionate about theatre, music, and dance. He has performed as a professional Broadway actor, on international stages, and in film, television, and commercials. His artistic background enriches his work with children, adolescents, and young adults by allowing him to creatively engage with them.

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Featured Article​​

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How to OVERCOME & BECOME

An AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness Approach to Overcoming Adversity

 

 

By Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D.

Chairman, The National Center for Emotional Wellness

Principal Consultant and Creator, AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness

 

 

When we think about “celebrities”—people whose lives we honor—there’s often a common denominator. In nearly every case, they’ve overcome something.

 

During my four decades of counseling with individuals who've faced illness, trauma, betrayal, injustice, and profound loss, I’ve often encouraged people to look at the Wikipedia page of someone they admire. Beneath the accomplishments and applause, one frequently finds a chapter marked by adversity. I sometimes wonder whether hardship is a prerequisite for greatness. Perhaps not. But one thing is certain:

 

Challenges don’t define us. How we respond to them often does.

 

Consider Stefani Germanotta—Lady Gaga, who endured bullying and trauma long before the world knew her name. Anderson Cooper has spoken openly about devastating personal losses that shaped his empathy, compassion, and depth as a journalist. John Walsh and Revé Walsh transformed the horrific abduction and murder of their six-year-old son, Adam, into the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Tony Robbins grew up amid instability and emotional distress before becoming a global voice for personal empowerment.

 

In each of these lives, pain was not the final chapter. Emotional suffering was not denied; it was harnessed. It became their fuel for growth and purpose.

 

In my clinical work as a psychologist, I’ve repeatedly observed a progression: victim, survivor, thriver. Victims suffer harm. Survivors continue functioning despite hardship. Thrivers grow because of their adversity.

 

The movement from victim to survivor requires practical information, grounding, and support. Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is providing accessible, evidence-based information—including practical strategies and tools that can empower us. As I've written previously, some people are turning to AI as their “New Best Friend.”

 

But technology alone is insufficient. To move from survivor to thriver requires something deeper. This is where AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness (AIEW) becomes particularly relevant. AIEW rests on a simple yet profound principle: when accessible AI-driven strategies and tools are ethically and responsibly integrated with authentic human connection, a pathway for overcoming emerges.

 

No one will overcome adversity through technology alone. While AI can provide information, it will never replace authentic human presence.

 

As I’ve emphasized in other articles in the National Center’s library, AI can’t:

 

          •  Look at you with eyes filled with compassion.

          •  Hold your hand as your eyes pool with tears.

          •  Embrace you while you are crying.

          •  Convey warmth through silent presence.

          •  Sit beside you and softly say, “I’m here for you.”

 

Technology can support us. Humanity will sustain us.

 

When we thoughtfully integrate these two forces, a powerful transformation takes place. Individuals can move beyond survival. They begin to reconstruct their narrative. The emotional energy that once fueled emotional distress can be redirected toward creativity, leadership, advocacy, and purpose. The experiences that once threatened to define them begin instead to refine them.

 

Adversity is not a prerequisite for greatness. However, the choice to sublimate—harnessing emotional pain from adversity and channeling it into a sense of purpose—often is.

 

AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness—the intersection of technology and humanity—offers a path to overcome and become.

 

You can make this choice.

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AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness Consulting

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