Bonny J. Forrest JD PhD

A leader in the field of child development, Dr. Bonny Forrest has been an advocate for children for over twenty years. As a practicing attorney and a child psychologist with specialized training in pediatric neuropsychology, she has vast experience in working with children in a variety of settings. She has been a researcher and clinician in academic and medical settings such as the Yale Child Study Center, Columbia University and the National Institute of Mental Health. She has directed clinics serving low-income populations, and has conducted a private practice focusing on the assessment of cognitive and other developmental issues in children. For much of her career, she has worked with parents, clinicians, and schools to advocate for children, especially those with special needs. Dr. Forrest also leads Project SKIP: Screening Kids for Intervention and Prevention, which screens children for social-emotional, cognitive, and developmental issues (www.projectskip.com). Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Forrest was one of the first mental health professionals to be certified at the highest level (“mentor”) for working with infants and toddlers in the state of California.

In addition to her teaching and clinical and consulting work, she has written a number of publications, including her recent book Will My Kid Grow Out of It?, a guide for parents and teachers through the children’s mental health system. She currently serves as a guest reviewer for several academic journals, and as a member of the editorial board of Child Neuropsychology. She has also served on American Psychological Association committees, including as a liaison to the Scientific Advisory Committee. She also currently serves on the Advisory Committees for the Immigration Justice Project of the American Bar Association and GreatSchools.org. She is the treasurer-elect of the San Diego Psychological Association.

Dr. Forrest is a frequent guest commentator for publications, TV shows and radio programs where she uses scientific facts to help explain behavior and psychological issues in a layperson’s language.