David A. Perna, PhD
​Licensed Psychologist

Lecturer in Psychology,
Department of Psychiatry,
Harvard Medical School

Email-Clinical: [email protected]
Email-Admin: [email protected]
Phone: 617-431-1441
LinkedIn: (Please Click)


​Founder & President
Copernican Clinical Services

Dr. Perna is a licensed psychologist who primarily treats patients who suffer from anger disorders, complex mental health issues, and  learning challenges (Including college/vocational transition concerns). His approach to treatment is guided by an appreciation of how his patients' learning challenges intersect with a variety of perceived or actual environmental stressors.

​Dr. Perna maintains an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School, as a Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry. He is also a Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital, the medical school's largest psychiatric teaching facility. He is the founder and owner of Copernican Clinical Services. He has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Qualifications: Dr. Perna is the former Director of the Child/Adolescent Anger Management Program at McLean Hospital where he worked with children/adolescents in a variety of clinical settings (outpatient and inpatient units as well as an acute residential treatment program). 

Dr. Perna's Curriculum Vitae:   Perna-Resume (Please Click)​

​Approach:

  • Complex Systems Integration
  • Anger Management
  • Learning Challenges
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Holistic
  • Change Theory
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Family Systems
  • Psychodynamic
  • Play Therapy

Clinical Expertise:

  • Anger Management
  • Anger Evaluations
  • College Transition
  • Learning Challenges
  • Academic Team Support
  • Oppositional Defiance
  • Co-Parenting
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Social Skills Challenges
  • Self-Harm
  • Conflicted Divorce
  • ADHD
  • Mood Disorders
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Academic Anxiety
  • Legal Issues

​Locations:

Newton:
     44 Thornton Street
​     Newton, MA 02458
     Tues/Thur

Lexington:
     35 Bedford Street
     Suite #8, Courtyard Entrance
     Lexington, MA 02420
     Mon/Wed/Fri

​Modalities:

  • ​Multi-Modality Treatment
  • Individual Therapy
  • Family Therapy
  • Group Therapy
  • School Meetings
  • Testing Evaluations
  • Report Writing
  • Legal Coordination

Insurance Options:

In-Network:
Please note: In many cases Dr. Perna has been successful in securing payment from insurers under the terms of a single case agreement. Please see the list of frequently asked questions for a definition of a "Single Case Agreement."
 Please contact us for more details

Insurance Options:

Out-of-Network:
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Optum Health Care
  • Tufts Health Care
  • Most Major Plans

Single Case Agreements*:
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Optum Health Care
  • Tufts Health Care