Amanda Baden, Ph.D.
Amanda Baden received her doctorate in counseling psychology from Michigan State University and she is currently an Associate Professor in the Counseling Program at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Dr. Baden has both personal and professional experience with adoption. She was adopted from Hong Kong and raised in a transracially adoptive family. Her experiences both personally and professionally have lead her to focus her research and clinical practice on adoption triad members, transracial/international adoption issues, racial and cultural identity, and multicultural counseling competence. Dr. Baden has written extensively on adoption issues including having created a model of identity for transracial and international adoptees called the Cultural-Racial Identity Model. She is one of the editors of the recently published book entitled, The Handbook of Adoption: Implications for Researchers, Practitioners, and Families (Sage Publications). She serves on several advisory boards for organizations including Families with Children from China, Chinese Adoptee Links, and the International Adoptee Congress. She is a regular columnist for Families with Children from China newsletters across the US and Canada and for Mei Magazine, a publication for Chinese adopted children. In 2005, Dr. Baden was chosen by her Congressman, Jerrold Nadler, and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute as an Angel in Adoption. Dr. Baden’s clinical specializations include counseling adoption triad members, transracial adoptees, and individuals having multiracial backgrounds. She lives in New York City and is a licensed psychologist with a clinical practice in Manhattan.
EDUCATION:
Licensed Psychologist, New York State
License #014725
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (APA-Accredited)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, August 1999
Dissertation: The Psychological Adjustment of Transracial Adoptees: An Application of the Cultural-Racial Identity Model
Honors: Minority Competitive Doctoral Fellowship, Michigan State University, 1994-1997, Graduate Conference Presentation Travel Support Award, 1996, 1997, Greater Lansing Area "Big Sister of the Year," 1996, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Handbook of Multicultural Counseling Scholarship, 1997, College of Education Alumni Endowed Scholarship, 1998
Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, June 1994 Honors: Chi Sigma Iota, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Full University-Wide Graduate
Assistantship
1992-1994
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, May 1991
Honors: Dean's List three semesters, Psi Chi, Hall Foundation Scholarship 1987
Honors:
2005 Congressional Record, In Honor Of Dr. Amanda Baden, 2005 Angel In Adoption, Vol. 151, No. 117
2005 Angels in Adoption Award, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Washington, DC
2004 Outstanding Major Contribution to The Counseling Psychologist award from the American Psychological Association’s Division of Counseling Psychology.
Current Position:
Associate Professor (9/02 to present) Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ
Tenure awarded 2007. Graduate Advisor for the Counseling Program. Research, teaching, advising, and consultation in a master’s counseling program.
Teaching Experience:
Assistant Professor (9/99 to 6/02) St. Johns University, Jamaica, NY
Tenure-track position. Research, teaching, advising, and consultation in a master’s counseling program. Engage in activities related to CACREP and CORE accreditation.
Honors: 2000 Awarded Partial Summer Support of Research Grant, St. John's University
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education (1/99 to 6/99) Vocational and Personal Counseling, Teachers College, Columbia University
Supervised and instructed a group of master’s counseling practica students at the Center for Educational and Psychological Services. Served as the primary clinical supervisor for the students’ psychotherapeutic, vocational, and vocational assessment experiences.
Teaching Assistant (8/97 to 12/97) CEP 822: Approaches to Educational Research, Michigan State University
Master's level course in research methodology and statistics. Assisted in instruction and grading, co-lead statistics/research methods discussion groups.
Instructor (8/95 to 5/97) CEP 260: The Dynamics of Personal Adjustment, Michigan State University
Provided all instruction, grading, course design, discussion exercises, examinations, and lectures to undergraduate and post-bachelor's degree students for eight semesters.
Educational Counselor (6/95 to 8/95) Upward Bound, Michigan State University
Counseled and tutored lower SES and racial ethnic minority high school students preparing to attend higher education. Provided advisement, mentoring, consultation, and some instruction to students.
Instructor (6/93 to 6/94) Sylvan Learning Center, Athens, GA
Instructed and tutored students, first graders to college level. Subjects covered: Reading, English, Math, Trigonometry, Calculus, SAT Preparation, and Study Skills.
Clinical Experience
Independent Practice (3/01 to present) New York, NY Clinical practice with children, adolescents, and adults with a specialization in adoption-related issues.
Instructor/Psychotherapist (8/00, 8/01, 8/02, 8/03) Camp Sejong, Blairstown, NJ
Taught material related to self-esteem and identity to Korean transracial adoptees at a week-long summer camp designed to provide a cultural immersion experience for adoptees.
Doctoral Psychology Intern (9/98 to 9/99) Gouverneur Hospital, New York, NY
Carried a caseload of 12 clients with six adults and six children/adolescents. Train as a psychologist with rotations at Bellevue Hospital's inpatient psychiatric unit and Gouverneur Hospital's Adult Service, the Child and Adolescent Unit, the Young Adult Outreach Team, and the Asian Bi-Cultural Clinic.
Counseling Practicum Supervisor (8/97 to 12/97) Master's Counseling Program, Michigan State University
Supervised the master's counseling practicum experiences of seven trainees. Weekly meetings with three community/agency counseling practicum students and three school counseling practicum students. Teaching assistant for CEP 862 Introduction to Individual and Group Counseling, a master's level course.
Therapist/Advanced Practicum (1/97 to 5/97) Community Support Services, CMHC, Lansing, MI Member of the Community Support Services outpatient Solution-Focused Therapy team for a comprehensive, full-service CMHC. Provided individual, assessment, consultation, intake, and referral services. Conducted Solution-Focused Therapy for low-income and racial ethnic minority clients.
Psychiatric Emergency Services Relief Therapist (6/96 to 12/97) Emergency Services, CMHC, Lansing, MI
Provided crisis intervention services, assessed mental status and possible lethality, and determined appropriateness for inpatient hospitalization. Consulted psychiatrists, psychiatric emergency services units, case managers, community mental health agencies. Made appropriate referrals.
Practicum Counselor (8/95 to 5/96) Olin Counseling Center, Michigan State University
Provided brief and long-term therapy for college students having a wide-range of issues. Co-Lead group therapy: Topic--Minority student issues. Performed assessments: MMPI-2, CPI, MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, SDS, Adjective Checklist.
Intern Counselor (1/93 to 6/94) Family Counseling Services, Athens, GA
Provided brief and long-term therapy for couples, families, children, adolescents, and adults. Co-Lead group therapy for women. Established and provided services at a satellite counseling center in Danielsville, GA, a small, underserved, rural town. Performed consultation, community outreach, referral, case management, intake, and crisis intervention services.
Residential Counselor (7/91 to 5/92) Strawberry Fields, Inc., State College, PA
Provided comprehensive psychological and independent living services for clients with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and dual diagnoses.
Professional Workshops/Training:
Technology Camp: Digital Storytelling, Curriculum Resource Center, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 6/05.
Peer Consultation in Adoption, St. John's University Adoption Conference, New York, NY (Monthly Meetings) 11/2004-present
Authority and Management: The Self, the Team, and the Organization, The New York Center of the A. K. Rice Institute and The Center for Educational Outreach and Innovation Teachers College Columbia University, New York, NY, 11/98.
The Person-Centered Workshop, The Person-Centered Studies Project, Roosevelt Rehabilitation Center, Warm Springs, GA, 2/94, 2/93.
Talking About Alcohol, Northeast Georgia Mental Health Center, 4/93.
Hypnotherapy Training, Facilitated by Ned Bridges, Ph.D., University of Georgia, received over 25 hours total supervision, 3/93-6/93.
Professional Consultation/Outreach:
Consultant/Tour Counselor (6/06 to 7/06) The Ties Program: Adoptive Family Homeland Journeys, China Ties Program, Wauwatosa, WI
Tour with families who adopted children from China to visit cities throughout China, orphanages, and home provinces. Facilitate discussion groups with families to process adoption and cultural experiences.
Consultant/Trainer (11/05 to present) Families with Children from China Greater New York
Presentations for families regarding adoption, counseling, and development and entitled, “Talking with your toddler about adoption” and “Talking to your children about Adoption, from Toddler to Teen”
Social Chair (2005-2006) ASERVIC (Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling) in the American Counseling Association
Convention chair and social chair; created and produced postcard flyer for the ASERVIC activities at ACA 2006; arranged social activities, catering, and social hours for ASERVIC; assisted ASERVIC president
Columnist (5/05 to present) Families with Children from China of Greater New York Quarterly Newsletter
Respond to questions from families regarding issues for their Chinese adopted children for the “Ask Amanda” column appearing regularly. Contribute articles on counseling for families.
Consultant/Trainer (4/05) Little Red School House and Elizabeth Irwin High School, NY, NY
Workshop, consultation, and training for teachers and staff at school in Manhattan.
Content Editor/Columnist (3/05 to present) Mei Magazine
Review content of a magazine for Chinese adopted children to ensure the accuracy, appropriateness, and sensitivity to issues. Also write bi-monthly column called “Take my advice” in response to children’s questions.
Program Planning Committee Co-Chair (4/05 to present) Center for Psychological Services, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY
Co-leading planning committee for the fourth adoption conference focused on transracial adoption at St. John’s University, entitled, “Families Without Borders? Adoption Across Culture and Race.”
Consultant and Board of Directors Member (5/04 to present) Families with Children from China of Greater New York (FCCNY)
Consult with an organization of transracial adoptees and their families regarding psychological and psychosocial development issues. Participate in professional activities of the organization including conference presentations.
Program Planning Committee Co-Chair (6/03 to 10/04) Center for Psychological Services, St. John's University, Jamaica, NYCo-leading planning committee for the third adoption conference at St. John’s University, entitled, “The Dynamics of Adoption: A Three-Way Mirror.”
Program Planning Committee Co-Chair (1/02 to 10/02) Center for Psychological Services, St. John's University, Jamaica, NYCo-lead planning committee for the second adoption conference at St. John’s University entitled, “The Lifelong Adoption Journey: Through the Eyes of the Adopted.”
Consultant/Trainer (2/02) Children's Aid and Family Services, Paramus, NJ Workshop, consultation, and training regarding transracial adoption, identity, and clinical practice.
Consultant (4/00 to 12/03) Korean Adoptee and Adoptive Family Network (KAAN) New JerseyConsult with an organization of transracial adoptees and their families regarding psychological and psychosocial development issues. Participate in professional activities of the organization including conference presentations.
Invited Colloquium Presenter (3/00) New York University Counseling Center, New York, NY Invited to present a colloquium on Racial Integration within Families, and the Cultural-Racial Identity Model to the counseling center staff at NYU.
Program Planning (11/99 to 10/00) Center for Psychological Services, St. John's University, Jamaica, NYInvited to participate in program development for a conference on adoption and the psychological issues pertaining to the adoptive triad. Invited to speak at the conference scheduled for October 21, 2000.
Workshop Co-Leader (11/98, 11/99) New York State Association of Independent Schools. Invited to co-lead the Race, Adoption & Identity Workshop for teachers, administrators, and parents on the issues surrounding transracial adoption and identity formation as they affect families and children.
Program Planning and Social Committees Member (8/97 to 10/98) Section on Women, Division 17 of APA
Assisted in program development for the first annual conference, Advancing Together: Centralizing Feminism and Multiculturalism in Counseling Psychology.
Consultant (4/97 to 7/97) Counseling Psychology Program, Michigan State University Designed, facilitated, and reported on focus group meetings with students for the APA Accreditation Self-Study Document.
Consultant (6/97 to 12/97) Physical Education and Exercise Science Department, Michigan State University Designed, facilitated, and reported on focus group meetings with past and potential employers, internship supervisors, and students for a university Continual Quality Improvement grant.
Workshop Facilitator (9/92 to 6/94) Person-Centered Studies Project, University of Georgia, Athens, GA Coordinated and carried out five day international workshop in Warm Springs, GA. Responsibilities included: Programming and logistics.
Media Appearances:
Interview Guest (12/6/00 and 12/7/00) The God Squad: The Adoption Journey Part I and II. Interviewed regarding psychological factors for members of the adoption triad.
Interview Guest (7/19/00) CBS New York The Early Show with Bryant Gumbel: Chinese Children Adoption. Interviewed regarding psychological factors for Chinese transracial adoptees and regarding personal experience.
Publications:
Books:
Javier, R. A., Baden, A. L., Biafora, F. A., & Camacho-Gingerich, A. (Eds.) (2007). The handbook of adoption: Implications for Researchers, practitioners, and families. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Peer-Reviewed:
Baden, A.L. (In press). Contextualizing race, culture, and identity for transracially and internationally adopted persons: Lessons from a personal and professional journey. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless.
Baden, A. L., & Wiley, M. O. (2007). Counseling adopted persons in adulthood: Integrating practice and research. The Counseling Psychologist, 35, 868-901.
Wiley, M. O., & Baden, A. L. (2005). Birth Parents in Adoption: Research, Practice, and Counseling Psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 33, 13-50.
Constantine, M. G., Kindaichi, M., Okazaki, S., Gainor, K. A., & Baden, A. L. (2005). A qualitative investigation of the cultural adjustment experiences of Asian international college women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 11, 162-175.
Zamostny, K. P., O’Brien, K. M., Baden, A. L., & Wiley, M. O. (2003). The practice of adoption: History, trends, and social context. The Counseling Psychologist, 31, 651-678.
Zamostny, K. P., Wiley, M. O., O’Brien, K. M., Lee, R. M., & Baden, A. L. (2003). Breaking the silence: Advancing knowledge about adoption for counseling psychologists. The Counseling Psychologist, 31 647-650.
Baden, A. L. (2002). The psychological adjustment of transracial adoptees: An application of the Cultural-Racial Identity Model. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 11, 167-192.
Javier, R. A, Baden, A. L., Cotton, J. G., & Denham, S-K. (2002). Taking adoption issues into the new millennium: An introduction. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 11, 127-130.
Baden, A. L., & Steward, R. J. (2000). A framework for use with racially and culturally integrated families: The Cultural-Racial Identity Model as applied to transracial adoptees [Special Issue: Adoption]. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 9, 309-337.
Steward, R. J., Boatwright, K., Sauer, E., & Baden, A. L. (1998). White racial identity, multicultural competency, and cognitive development. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 26, 254-272.
Book Chapters:
Baden, A. L. (In preparation). Navigating heritage, culture, identity, and adoption: Counseling transracially adopted individuals. In D. Paladino & R. Henriksen (Eds.). Counseling Multiple Heritage Individuals, Couples, and Families. Washington, DC: American Counseling Association.
Baden, A. L., & Wong, G. (In press). Assessment issues for working with diverse populations of elderly: Multiculturally sensitive perspectives. In L. A. Suzuki, P. J. Meller, & P. G. Ponterotto (Eds.) Handbook of Multicultural Assessment: Clinical, Psychological, and Educational Applications (3rd Edition) (Jossey-Bass Social and Behavioral Science Series). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc. Publishers.
Baden, A. L. (2007). Putting culture into context: The impact of attitudes toward the adoption of Chinese Adoptees. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, & A. Camacho-Gingerich (Eds.) Handbook of adoption: Implications for Researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 117-132). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Baden, A. L., & Steward, R. J. (2007). The Cultural-Racial Identity Model: A theoretical framework for studying transracial adoptees. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, & A. Camacho-Gingerich (Eds.) Handbook of adoption: Implications for Researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 90-112). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Baden, A. L., & Wiley, M. O. (2007). Birth Parents in Adoption: Using Research to Inform Practice. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, & A. Camacho-Gingerich (Eds.) Handbook of adoption: Implications for Researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 425-444). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Baden, A. L. (2007). Identity, psychological adjustment, culture, and race: Issues for transracial adoptees and the Cultural-Racial Identity Model. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, & A. Camacho-Gingerich (Eds.) Handbook of adoption: Implications for Researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 359-378). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Javier, R. A., Baden, A. L., Biafora, F., Camacho-Gingerich, A., & Henderson, D. B. (2007). Breaking the seal: Taking adoption issues to the academic and professional communities. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, & A. Camacho-Gingerich (Eds.) Handbook of adoption: Implications for Researchers, practitioners, and families (pp. 1-14). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Biafora, F., Javier, R. A., Baden, A. L., & Camacho-Gingerich, A (2007). A look at the future of adoption. In R. A. Javier, A. L. Baden, F. A. Biafora, &a