Wendy Wade, PhD, LPCC, CADC 1

Wendy Wade, Ph.D., LPCC, and CADC 1, is an expert in the field of addiction counseling and child psychology. She began her career in the 1980s, facilitating educational support groups with children of parental addiction at Kids Are Special. After working as a teacher and principal, she joined Betty Ford Center, where she continued to provide support groups for children and caregivers. Dr. Wade has also served on a Prevent Child Abuse Committee, helping to raise awareness of the impact of addiction on families.

As an inpatient case manager and counselor at Beacon House treatment center, Dr. Wade developed innovative programs to address the needs of children of parents with addiction. She has trained professionals, including teachers, and presented at addiction and counseling conferences on the difficulties and resiliencies children of parents with addiction face. She also trains for the National Association of Children of Addiction (NACoA). Dr. Wade is currently a professor of MA Counseling at Palo Alto University and leads the Addiction Counseling Course.

Dr. Wade’s commitment to helping children affected by addiction extends beyond her professional work. She volunteered as a counselor bi-monthly at Camp Mariposa weekend camp in San Diego for several years, providing educational groups and counseling for children of parental substance use disorder.