Abby Altman

Dr. Abby Altman's clinical work focuses on adults and older adults and evidence-based psychotherapy. She is the co-director of RENEW (Resilience through Neurologic and Emotional Wellness) Brain and Wellness Support Services and a vital member of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Training Clinic. She is particularly interested in the treatment of depression in older adults and psychotherapeutic approaches for those with cognitive decline.

She is the Psychology Lead within the BWH Behavioral Health Integration Program in Primary Care and the BWH Clinical Lead for iCBT (internet-based CBT). Dr. Altman is keenly interested in motivation for health behavior change and utilizing motivational interviewing in primary care. She has developed innovative programming to support staff and physicians in using engaging, collaborative, and strength-supporting interactions to assist patients in goal achievement.

Dr. Altman serves as a supervisor, mentor, and lecturer. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), has trained others in Motivational Interviewing locally, nationally, and internationally, and is the co-director of the Harvard Medical School (HMS) course entitled Principles of Motivational Interviewing. She is faculty at the annual HMS Neuropsychiatry: A Comprehensive Update and Lifestyle Medicine courses.

Her research interests include interventions for loneliness, motivational interviewing and behavior change, brain health and modifiable risk factors, CBT adaptions for those with cognitive decline, and asynchronous patient/provider communications.

Clinical Interests

• Aging Issues
• Anxiety Disorders
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Cognitive Function Disorders
• Depression
• Evidence-Based Psychotherapy
• Grief And Bereavement
• Mood Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Substance Abuse

Leadership Title

• Psychology Lead, BWH Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care
• Clinical Lead, iCBT Program (BWH)