Biography
Dr. Peter A. Wish, author of the Amazon #1 bestseller “The Candidate’s 7 Deadly Sins”, gained national prominence in 1971 as the Founder and Executive Director of the New England Institute of Family Relations in Framingham, Massachusetts. The Institute was the first Masters and Johnson-type sexual dysfunction clinic in New England. In a short time, the Institute grew to one of the largest outpatient private counseling agencies with four offices and 30 therapists and expanded its services to include research, groups, education and corporate consulting.
His professional expertise caught the attention of the Boston Globe, who invited Dr. Wish to write a weekly column in its Living Section called “The Family Experience.” This column, later syndicated by UPI to over 150 newspapers, won him the National Media Award from the American Psychological Foundation.
Dr. Wish hosted a daily radio show on WEEI- CBS radio in Boston called “Psychologically Speaking.” And, for three years, he was the guest consulting psychologist on “The Good Day Show” on WCVB ABC-TV in Boston. For his “contributions in the advancement of psychology” the Massachusetts Psychological Association awarded him the Public Communications Award, and the American Psychological Association awarded him with the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award. He’s listed in Who’s Who in American Men and Women of Science, Who’s Who in America. Dr. Wish has appeared on over 100 television and radio shows including: Nightline, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Morning Show. He has been quoted by over 200 newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, USA Today, Time, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal.
Dr.Wish was a psychology professor at the State College of Massachusetts at Framingham from 1970-75, a lecturer in psychology at Babson and Bentley colleges, and an adjunct professor of psychology at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He was a consultant to the Post-Traumatic Stress Unit at the Boston VA Hospital and the Boston Police Stress Unit, and was a lecturer and supervisor to medical students and interns at the OB/GYN dept. at Framingham Union Hospital, a Boston University Medical School teaching hospital. Other consultancies included the Southboro Medical Group, Beverly Hills Weight Loss Centers of America, Proctor and Gamble, and the United States Tour Operators Association.
After retiring from active practice, Dr. Wish and his wife moved to Sarasota, Florida, where he donates time for philanthropy and politics. He is past-chair of the Board of Directors of Easter Seals of SW Florida, and served for six years on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Sarasota, where he was past interim-chair. He also sits on the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Advisory Board. He and his wife, Dr. LeslieBeth Wish, established and co-coordinated the Family Support Network of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation in Tampa that offers pro-bono counseling services across the USA for the children and families of fallen Special Ops Warriors.
Wish also is former Chair of the national advisory board of MSWorld.org., the official message board and chat room provider for the National MS Society.
During a prominent career as a clinical and academic psychologist, Dr. Wish also became a fundraiser, campaign coach, and strategist to political candidates. He was a member of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s National Campaign Finance Committee, where he was honored with the highest STRIPE status for amount raised. He was also chosen by Gov. Romney as a delegate to the RNC convention in Tampa. Wish also helped coordinate the Sarasota/Manatee Student Ambassador Program for Gov Rick Scott’s inaugural. He served on Gov Rick Scott’s election and re-election finance teams and served on the Florida statewide finance team for Judge Ashley Moody who was elected current Attorney General.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Dr Wish to his transition team for government operations.
Dr. Wish was appointed in 2013 by Gov Rick Scott to the Sarasota/Manatee Airport Authority where he serves as a commissioner and former Chairman of the Board.
Dr. Wish wrote a “MY VIEW” column for the Sarasota Observer. His column “No home of their own: Sarasota’s invisible problem” about homeless families and children in Sarasota, was awarded the 2010 3rd prize for all Florida weekly newspapers from the Florida Press Association.
Wish received his Ph.D. in psychology with “Highest Distinction” from Boston College.
Currently, Dr. Wish coaches Republican and Democratic candidates and campaigns in state, congressional, senatorial, and gubernatorial races. If you are interested in Dr. Wish’s political campaign coaching services, just fill out a contact form and he will get in touch with you.
