Draft:Dr. Leigh Silverton

Leigh Silverton
Born	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation(s)	Clinical psychologist, author
Employer(s)	University of California, Los Angeles
Spouse	Chuck Philips (partner until 2024)
Relatives	Victor M. Carter (grandfather), Adrea Carter (grandmother)

Leigh Silverton is an American clinical psychologist, author, and educator. She is recognized for her contributions to trauma psychology, schizophrenia research, and psychological assessment.

Early Life and Education

Silverton was born in Los Angeles, California. She is the granddaughter of Victor M. Carter, a businessman and former president of Republic Pictures, and Adrea Carter, a philanthropist and civic leader. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern California, where she studied under Sarnoff A. Mednick, focusing on genetic and environmental risk factors in schizophrenia. She completed her clinical internship at McLean Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

Career

Silverton has held academic positions at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research has addressed emotional disorders, structural brain anomalies in high-risk populations, and trauma resulting from child abuse. She received the Young Investigator Award early in her career.

In clinical practice, Silverton has worked extensively with individuals affected by sexual trauma, domestic violence, and dissociative disorders. She co-developed assessment tools such as the *Malingering Probability Scale* and the *Adolescent Apperception Cards*, utilized in forensic and therapeutic contexts.

She served as chair of the Southern California Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration and has presented internationally on integrative approaches to trauma therapy.

Writing and Media

Silverton is the author of *MayBeTheOne*, a memoir exploring her personal experiences with domestic violence and healing. She has also worked as a psychological consultant for screenwriters and producers on trauma representation in film and television.

Personal Life

Silverton was the long-time partner of investigative journalist Chuck Philips until his passing in 2024. Her grandparents, Victor M. Carter and Adrea Carter, were notable civic figures in Los Angeles.

Selected Publications

• Silverton, L., Mednick, S. A., Schulsinger, F., Parnas, J., & Harrington, M. E. (1988). "Genetic risk for schizophrenia, birthweight, and cerebral ventricular enlargement." Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 97(4), 496–498.
• Silverton, L., Finello, K. M., Schulsinger, F., & Mednick, S. A. (1985). "Low birth weight and ventricular enlargement in a high-risk sample." Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94(3), 405–409.
• Silverton, L. (1985). "Crime and the schizophrenia spectrum: A study of two Danish cohorts." In W. Buikhuisen & S. A. Mednick (Eds.), Explaining Criminal Behavior (pp. 183–210). Springer.

External Links

• Professional profile at UCLA Archived 2024-01-19 at the Wayback Machine
• Malingering Probability Scale - WPS
• Leigh Silverton on Google Scholar

Category:American psychologists Category:American women psychologists Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:University of California, Los Angeles faculty Category:Jewish American scientists Category:People from Los Angeles }}