Helen Hayden-Wade, Ph.D.

Dr. Helen Hayden-Wade (License Number #: CA PSY19313) is a San Diego-based licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Hayden-Wade works with young adults (18+) through older adults, supporting clients in navigating life transitions, emotional challenges, and long-standing patterns that can feel difficult to shift over time.

Dr. Helen Hayden-Wade specializes in depression, anxiety, body image and eating concerns, trauma-informed care, and mood-related concerns. Her work is grounded in both clinical practice and research, offering thoughtful, evidence-based therapy focused on meaningful and lasting change.

Dr. Helen Hayden-Wade brings extensive experience across hospital systems, research settings, and community mental health programs, where she has led multidisciplinary teams and collaborated closely with medical providers to support comprehensive, coordinated care.

Known for her warm and thoughtful approach, Dr. Hayden-Wade helps clients feel safe exploring difficult emotions, relationship patterns, and life experiences while working toward greater clarity, balance, and healing.

"Dr. Helen Hayden-Wade's style is thoughtful, structured, and collaborative. She balances practical tools with deeper exploration, helping clients build awareness, strengthen coping strategies, and create meaningful, sustainable change over time."

Clinical Focus

Anxiety & Mood Disorders
Depression
Trauma (PTSD, Trauma-Informed Care)
Acute Stress & Burnout
Emotional Regulation
Life Transitions
Long-Standing Behavioral Patterns

Therapeutic Modalities

Integrative Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-Informed)
Attachment-Based Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Brief, Time-Limited Therapy
Trans-Theoretical Model (Stages of Change)
Positive Psychotherapy (Strengths-Based / Rogerian)
Seeking Safety (Trauma-Informed)

Therapeutic Approach

Dr. Hayden-Wade takes an integrative and insight-oriented approach, drawing from multiple evidence-based frameworks to meet each client where they are. She focuses on helping clients understand the patterns behind their thoughts and behaviors, rather than only addressing surface-level symptoms.

Experience and Background

Dr. Hayden-Wade earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology through the UCSD/SDSU joint doctoral program and completed her Internship via the UCSD Medical School. She also completed a 2-year post-baccalaureate training at Yale University’s Department of Psychology, where she focused on eating and weight-related disorders and body image research.

She has held leadership roles across major healthcare systems in San Diego, including serving as Program Manager at Family Health Centers of San Diego, where she oversaw a high-level mental health program providing intensive care for individuals with complex psychiatric needs.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Hayden-Wade worked at Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego, supporting multidisciplinary teams providing developmental and behavioral health services. Her background also includes research and clinical work through the Child & Adolescent Services Research Center (CASRC), where she conducted research regarding childhood obesity.

Age Groups Served

Young Adults (18–30) | Adults (31–60) | Older Adults (61+)

Payment

Dr. Hayden-Wade accepts insurance. Please contact our Client Care Advocate to confirm coverage and benefits.

Inspiration & Balance

Dr. Hayden-Wade draws inspiration from over 3 decades of experience in the “helping profession” starting in 1987 when she began her undergraduate training and volunteerism in Psychology at Kenyon College. Since then, across a variety of milieus, she draws upon memories and experiences of the honor and privilege it has been to assist fellow human beings as they address diverse challenges in their past and current lives.

To achieve her own personal balance, Dr. Helen Hayden-Wade enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as running with her rescue pup, Scooter. Dr. Hayden-Wade practices what she “preaches” by getting outdoors in beautiful San Diego and celebrating the beauty that surrounds us, finding the positive valence in each day and maintaining a gratitude perspective.