Angela Breidenstine, PhD

Angela Breidenstine, PhD, is a senior psychologist in the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute.

Dr. Breidenstine comes to the Child Mind Institute from the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA, where she worked for 16 years, most recently as Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She has special expertise in infant and early childhood mental health, having had a focus on working with children ages 0 to 7 and their families throughout her career. Dr. Breidenstine has extensive experience providing therapy for children who have experienced trauma and supporting parents/caregivers in forming strong, positive relationships with their young children. She is trained in multiple therapeutic approaches, such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Preschool PTSD Treatment (PPT, a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for young children), Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) and Circle of Security (COS). Dr. Breidenstine received training in a pediatric sleep clinic, pediatric feeding program, and neonatal follow-up clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, worked in both hospital- and community-based mental health outpatient programs, and trained in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. She is also trained in mindfulness-based practices and is a trained teacher of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) group curriculum.

Dr. Breidenstine approaches her work with children and families with respect, compassion, flexibility and creativity. She believes that treating children includes valuing their unique personalities, strengths, and potential, and that therapists should support children and families in identifying their primary goals and engaging in healing and positive growth. Dr. Breidenstine values all aspects of diversity and strives to provide care that is culturally sensitive, holistic and inclusive. She believes that because parents and caregivers are the most important people in their children’s lives, they are a vital part of the therapy process.

During her 16 years in the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Tulane University, Dr. Breidenstine often provided care to children who had experienced adversity/stress, trauma, abuse, foster care, adoption, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, mood disturbances, and parent-child relationship challenges. Dr. Breidenstine trained psychology interns and fellows, as well as child psychiatry residents and fellows, in assessment and therapy approaches. In addition to her clinical practice, she was a member of the Zero to Six National Workgroup of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Dr. Breidenstine also provided training in infant/early childhood mental health approaches to agencies in several states in the U.S. as well as in Canada and Australia. She was asked to develop child development and stress management trainings for the state of Louisiana’s child welfare staff. Dr. Breidenstine continues as a part-time faculty member with Tulane University, through which she collaborates with the Louisiana Children’s Museum on creating programming for young children and parents and participates in the Early Trauma Treatment Network, a multi-site program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

• Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
• Clinical Psychologist / Supervisor, Tulane Parenting Education Program & Tulane Infant Team
• Clinical Psychologist, Tulane Infant Mental Health Services and Tulane Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Services
• Faculty Member, Tulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

• Postdoctoral LEND Fellow (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental & Related Disabilities), Clinical Psychology, Early Childhood; The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Predoctoral Clinical Intern, Clinical Psychology, Child Track; Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University Medical Center
• Extern, Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents
• Extern, Center for Clinical Psychology Services,University of Virginia

• PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Virginia
• MEd, Clinical and School Psychology, University of Virginia
• MS, Psychology, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology
• BA, Psychology and English, Bridgewater College