Dr. Norman Hoffman stands at the intersection of three seemingly disparate worlds: the clinic, the courtroom, and the nightclub. A licensed clinical marriage and family therapist, a certified forensic mental health evaluator, and an accomplished jazz musician, Dr. Hoffman has successfully integrated these fields to become a pioneering force in child development, music therapy, and forensic evaluation.

Though his career has taken many twists and turns, Dr. Hoffman’s journey began with a dream as a child growing up in Northeast Philadelphia. Inspired by his father, a police officer and a musician, he aspired to become a professional jazz pianist. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Philadelphia's University of the Arts, but it was his work with mentally challenged children and adolescents at the Devereux Foundation that redirected his path. Observing music’s transformative power on an autistic child sparked his interest in psychology and led him to pursue advanced studies at Villanova University and Combs College of Music.

Dr. Hoffman’s academic journey culminated in a Doctor of Music Therapy and a Ph.D. in Psychotherapy, blending his passion for music with a deep understanding of mental health. His first book, Hear the Music! A New Approach to Mental Health (1974), introduced a revolutionary approach to therapy using music, solidifying his status as a trailblazer.

As he expanded his career, Dr. Hoffman’s clinical experience grew alongside his expertise. He coordinated programs at the Community Mental Health Center of Palm Beach County and served in various leadership roles at the Hazleton/Nanticoke Mental Health Center. There, he became one of the first to introduce forensic evaluations for child custody cases. His work in this field deepened when he became Executive Director of Pompano Beach Counseling Services, where he specialized in a wide range of behavioral and mental health services, including child and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, and forensic evaluations.

In 1994, Dr. Hoffman pursued further academic studies, earning a Doctoral degree in Human Services Counseling and a Doctor of Pastoral Psychology. It was his frustration with the limitations of traditional therapy that led to his groundbreaking work in treating children and families. His book, Bad Children Can Happen to Good Parents (1998), revolutionized the way mental health professionals view children with behavioral challenges, focusing on the genetic causes of behavioral problems and offering a new treatment paradigm: helping parents "rewire" their children rather than "fixing" them.

Dr. Hoffman’s expertise is not just theoretical. His years of hands-on experience, both as a clinician and as an expert witness in family and criminal courts, led him to establish the National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE) in 2003. The NBFE is the only forensic mental health counselor credentialing organization endorsed by the American Mental Health Counselors Association. Through NBFE, Dr. Hoffman has trained and certified counselors nationwide, offering specialized assessments and treatment plans for at-risk families and challenging children.

Dr. Hoffman’s work has shaped the way professionals and families understand mental health. His groundbreaking approach continues to empower parents, clinicians, and policymakers, emphasizing that parents are not to blame for their children’s struggles and that psychiatric medications are not always the best solution. He remains a leading voice in advocating for more comprehensive and compassionate methods of treatment.

With his unique blend of expertise in therapy, forensic evaluation, and music, Dr. Hoffman is committed to reshaping the future of mental health, one family at a time.