Dr. Dan Gottlieb

Dan began his practice in 1969 after receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees at Temple University. As a young psychologist, his early career specialized in addictions. At the time he was director of two outpatient clinics and one inpatient unit supervising over 30 staff. He was also a graduate of the highly respected Family Institute of Philadelphia, a program that later elected him as president. 

Personally, he was happily married and had loved being a father to his young daughters. However, his early successes were tragically interrupted. 

In 1979 Dan was in a near fatal automobile accident which left him paralyzed from the chest down. As expected, there were years of despair, hopelessness and depression. He experienced loss on top of loss as his wife and sister passed away several years later. And for the last four decades, he has been observing life with what he calls “a curious mind and an open heart.” In doing so, he has learned valuable lessons about what it means to be human and how adversity can teach us how to live better and love better. 

Despite this adversity, he resumed his private practice which was to grow substantially over the next several decades. In addition to his practice, he has continued to lecture, train and supervise a variety of healthcare professionals. 

From 1985 until last year, Daniel Gottlieb hosted “Voices in the Family,” an award-winning mental health call-in radio show aired on WHYY 90.9 FM, Philadelphia’s NPR affiliate. He stepped down from his weekly show and now does six specials a year in front of live audiences. 

From 1993 until 2008, he wrote a highly regarded column for the Philadelphia Inquirertitled: “Inside Out,” reflecting his perspective on the intersection of the events in our world and the events in our minds and hearts. He has also published 5 books, including the international bestseller: Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life . 

The essence of his philosophy can be found on his business card. After his name there are no degrees and no fancy titles. His card simply says “Daniel Gottlieb. Human.”