Wendy M. Wade

Wendy M. Wade, PhD, serves as Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University, bringing over 40 years of specialized experience in addiction counseling with particular focus on children affected by parental substance abuse. Her career includes pivotal roles such as program coordinator for children of addicted parents at the Betty Ford Center and therapeutic provider for Santa Cruz County Children’s Mental Health.

Her extensive educational background features:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute
• MA in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC) from Santa Clara University
• Educational Administration Credential from Santa Clara University
• Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University
• MA in Psychology from Santa Clara University
• BA in Psychology from Stanford University

Dr. Wade's research centers on the intersection of addiction and family systems, investigating how parental substance abuse impacts child development and identifying resilience factors in vulnerable youth. She integrates spiritual dimensions into therapeutic approaches, examining how religious practices like Catholic Mass can facilitate healing in addiction recovery. Her work consistently emphasizes culturally responsive interventions and trauma-informed care for children in high-risk environments.

Her publication record reveals evolving expertise from foundational studies on children's resilience (2007-2008) to contemporary explorations of spiritual healing modalities (2013) and recent contributions to online counseling education accessibility. This trajectory demonstrates her commitment to adapting evidence-based practices to emerging technological and societal contexts while maintaining focus on marginalized populations.

As a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), Dr. Wade actively translates research into practice through her national training role with the National Association of Children of Addiction (NACoA), conference presentations at major addiction forums, and participation in veteran healing retreats including reconciliation trips to Vietnam. Her clinical work extends to supporting special education communities through therapeutic assessments and family interventions.