Dr. Kalyani Gopal

Dr. Kalyani Gopal is a licensed clinical psychologist, sought after keynote speaker on trauma, parenting, mental health issues and specializes in direct work with families struggling with adult traumas, attachment issues, ACEs, shame and guilt, fear and normal parenting anxieties. Her mentorship through clinical training, program development for new clinicians focusing on neurodevelopment disorders and neuroscience - with over 35 years of experience in diverse clinical settings. Dr. Gopal was trained as a clinical psychologist at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, doctoral training in clinical psychology in Vanderbilt University and completed her training at Alliant University. Her interests are in parenting, foster parenting, child and adolescent psychopathology, attachment issues, foster care assessment, adjustment, and training, child forensic assessments and treatment, juvenile delinquency, expert witness testimony, long term sequelae of child sexual abuse, media relations, and immigrant experiences.

Dr. Gopal is on the Lake County Child Protection Team and provides consultation in handling complex foster care issues. She is also on the Lake County Child Fatality Team and has received numerous accolades and awards such as the Outstanding Service to Lake County award in 2002, American Psychological Association Presidential Citation in 2024, and Indiana Commission for Women Torchbearer Award, as well as the US Congressional Award for Top 20 Global Women.. She currently holds the position as President/Clinical Director, Mid-America Psychological and Counseling Services in Merrillville, Indiana and supervises three outpatient clinics in Indiana. She is a credentialed and preferred provider for the Division of Children and Families in Illinois, contracted provider for the Department of Child Services in Indiana, and a Disability Evaluator for the State of Indiana.

Dr. Gopal is the first woman of color to become the President of prestigious psychological Associations - The Division of Clinical Psychology (12), American Psychological Association, Illinois Psychological Association and is currently the President of the Psychology Coalition of Accredited NGOs at the United Nations. Dr. Gopal is an international speaker on trauma on which she has conducted workshops across the country, wrote clinical manuals for Mongolia, India, and the US, and is internationally renowned expert on the Impact of Child Sexual Abuse, sex trafficking, and domestic violence.. Dr. Gopal is the author of ‘The Supportive Foster Parent’ (April 2011) and co-author of ‘Americanization of New Immigrants, co-Editor of “Handbook of Sex Trafficking and currently, Strong Roots, Safe Parents. She runs a shelter for women who are trafficked in the US and rescue home in India where she also runs a training center on psychological trauma.