Aimée M. Vadnais, PsyD, LMFT
Program Director, Director Clinical Training, Associate Professor, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy
Video Introduction
In addition to her work at APU, Aimee Vadnais, PsyD, MFT, is the cofounder and clinical supervisor at Evolve Therapy San Diego, a private practice collective, where she specializes in couples, women’s issues, trauma (EMDR), adolescents, and infertility. Her clinical interests include positive psychology, emotional intelligence, attachment theory, and sensory processing disorders. She has been a guest speaker about the field of psychology at several San Diego schools, including La Jolla Country Day School, Cal Coast Academy, the University of California at San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, the University of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego Christian College, Cathedral Catholic High School, and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS). She has been a guest speaker multiple times at the Hawaii International Conference in Education, presenting on topics such as “Using Research-Based Positive Psychology Interventions to Maximize Emotional Well-Being in K-12 Schools”; “Incorporating Movement Therapy, Vision Therapy, Listening Therapy, and Meditation into Traditional Martial Arts Instruction to Address the Underlying Neurological and Physiological Causes of Learning, Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders”; “Do Students with Trauma Histories have Challenges Forming Secure Attachments in Educational Settings?”; “Does Emotion Coaching and Teaching Emotional Intelligence Skills to Elementary-Aged Children Reduce School Bullying?”; and “Do Children who are Securely Attached to their Parents have Less Negative Reactions to Cyberbullying than Children from other Types of Attachments?”. Dr. Vadnais has also been published several times, including the articles Infidelity: Is Your Spouse Leading a Double Life? Eight Warning Signs to Consider and Parenting: Forcing Kids to Become too Responsible after Divorce Can Hurt in Long Run on divorce360.com, as well as a contribution to Making Marriage a Success: Pearls of Wisdom from Experts Across the Nation (Booklocker.com, Inc., 2011). Her dissertation was titled “The Effects of Emotional Intelligence on Marital Satisfaction.” She is an AAMFT-approved Supervisor Candidate (certificate pending) and is currently working on a book about Attachment and the New Testament, entitled "“The Heart of Connection: What Scripture Says about Attachment and God’s Profound Love.”
Education
- PsyD, Marriage and Family Therapy, Alliant International University
- MA, Marital and Family Therapy, University of San Diego
- BA, Psychology, Pepperdine University
- BA, Public Relations, Pepperdine University
Credentials/Certifications
- License: Marriage and Family Therapy
- License: Psychology
- Certification: Prepare/Enrich Counselor
Academic Area
- School of Behavioral Sciences
Expertise
- Sensory Processing Disorders in Children
- Fertility
- Women’s Issues
- Couples (EFT & Gottman)
- Attachment
- Trauma
- Positive Psychology
- Emotional Intelligence
- Adolescents
Courses Taught
- PPSY 551 – Theories of Personality and Psychotherapy
- PPSY 558 – Advanced Developmental Psychology
- PPSY 571 – Family Therapy
- PPSY 580 – Introduction to Clinical Practice: Basic Skills
- PPSY 581 – Introduction to Clinical Practice: Advanced Skills
- PPSY 582 – Group Therapy
- Special Topics – Foundations of Positive Psychology
- Special Topics – Attachment Theory in Clinical Practice and the Church
- APA Seminar