The attendance was great with a total number of 46 attendees. Joan is one of an identical twin. The main message stressed was that parents need to treasure the twinship and nurture each child's individuality.

It was a wonderful evening, one from which we gained much valued insight from her vast experience. Joan has also written a book “Emotionally Healthy Twins”.

Joan Friedman Biography:

Joan’s fraternal twin boys turned 20 on 19-01-2009. She is one of an identical twin. Her older sister has identical twins and her younger brother also has twins.

Joan Friedman, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist for individuals, couples, children and families, specializing in twins and parents of twins. She is much in demand to speak on developmental and parenting issues of twins, and has addressed preschool directors, elementary school principals and teachers, psychotherapists, and parents of twins and adult twins groups. She has also consulted with preschool directors and clinicians on their handling of twins.
Dr. Friedman recently received her second doctorate from the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis in Los Angeles and wrote her dissertation on the mothering of twins. She received her first psychoanalytic training and doctorate from the Graduate Center for Child Development and Psychotherapy in Los Angeles in 1988. For the past ten years she facilitated the Multiples Support Group at Temple Judea in Encino, California, where mothers of twins meet monthly to discuss issues related to twins and parents' emotional and psychological well being. She conducts support groups for mothers of twins in her private practice.

An expert on the psychological development of children, Dr. Friedman has demonstrated this expertise in a variety of professional positions. Her social work background and training with children and their families in community outreach settings, outpatient mental health facilities, and medical multidisciplinary team efforts have contributed to her unique perspectives about children and their emotional needs.