Breeda
McGrath
Breeda McGrath
- Campus: Online
- Department: Pacific Oaks College
- Institution: The Chicago School
- Office Phone: 312-467-2596
Biography
Breeda McGrath is an Associate Dean for the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. She previously served as the Online Dean of Academic Affairs, Department Chair of the International Psychology Online, and Dean of Academic Affairs at the Chicago campus. Dr. McGrath joined The Chicago School in 2007. She earned her doctoral and master's degrees in school psychology at Loyola University Chicago. As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Dr. McGrath is active in a number of APA Divisions (Peace Psychology, International Psychology) and is a member of the APA Ethics Committee. She is a certified trainer in the NASP School Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training Curriculum (PREPaRE) and previously worked as a psychologist in Illinois public schools. She provides training and consultation for Immigrant Children's Rights organizations (e.g., Young Center) has established international collaborations Indonesia, Senegal, India, Puerto Rico, and Greece.
Dr. McGrath's expertise in school psychology includes child development, social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, educational disabilities, legal issues, advocacy, and training. In clinical psychology and mental health, she specializes in anxiety, mood disorders, self-injury, cognitive behavioral therapy, cross-cultural considerations, identity development, assessment and psychological evaluation. Her experience in schools includes academic interventions, cognitive assessment, bullying, school violence, school supervision, school law and ethics, systems change, and international school psychology.
Education History
Degree Institution Year Ph.D. Psychology Loyola University , Chicago, IL 2002 M.Ed. School Psychology Loyola University , Chicago, IL 1998 B. Rel. Sc. - Religious Education & Music Mater Dei Institute , Ireland 1990 Professional Memberships
Role Organization Member American Psychological Association Member International School Psychologists Association Member National Association of School Psychologists Member Puerto Rico Association of Psychologists Member UPCEA International Network Leadership Member CPED Deans Council Member Puerto Rico School Psychologists Association Presentations
Title Location Date Healthy Youth Development in the Digital Era Universiti Putra Malaysia (Virtual) 2023 Creating a free, online, global peace psychology curriculum APA Convention, Washington, DC 2023 Standards-Based Education through a National Curriculum Model Bologna, Italy 2023 Peace Psychology and Conflict Resolution Beirut, Lebanon 2023 Global Learning and the Future of Work: Micro-credentialing in Education Abroad Programs Milan, Italy 2022 Research for Scholarly Publication Yogyakarta, Indonesia (Virtual) 2022 Integrating Global content into Psychology Training Curriculum APA Convention, Minneapolis, MN 2022 Cyber Counseling Yogyakarta, Indonesia 2021 Cultural Competence in Crisis Intervention San Diego, CA 2021 Teaching Strategies During a Pandemic Online 2021 Cultural Competence in Crisis Intervention ACES Aware, San Diego (Virtual) 2021 Teaching Strategies During a Pandemic: Presence, Engagement, and Flexibility HICES Conference, Hawai'i (Virtual) 2021 Using Technology to Promote Inclusion in the Teaching of Psychology Online 2020 Migration with Dignity Online 2020 International MOUs Online 2020 Mind Shift: Moving from In-Person to Remote Teaching UPCEA: Online 2020 Leading Through Adversity: Your Mental Health in a Pandemic Leadership Women: Online 2020 Rethinking Study Abroad: Affordability Models UPCEA Online 2020 Self-care and Self-Compassion: Working with Separated Families during the COVID-19 Pandemic Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights 2020 Seeking Quality in an Online Learning Environment Mumbai, India (Virtual) 2020 Program Review from Multiple Perspectives Online 2020 Journey Toward Change: Embracing Technology and Pursuing Excellence in Online Education University of Puerto Rico 2019 Pursuing Excellence through Online Education in Psychology Carlos Albizu University, Puerto Rico 2019 The Role of the Counselor in Inclusive Schools in Indonesia Yogyakarta, Indonesia 2016 Spiritual Care with Migrant Families Chicago, IL 2016 Impact of Detention on Children and Families American Bar Assoc, Chicago, IL 2015 Protecting Children's Rights through Multidisciplinary Forensics Chicago, IL 2011 Community Involvement
Role Organization Consultant Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights Consultant Unaccompanied Children Interfaith Ministry Consultant Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Areas of Expertise
Area Expertise Child & Adolescent Development Adolescence Identity Development Learning/Learning Disabilities Social Development Clinical Psychology / Mental Health Anxiety Disorders Assessment/Psychological Testing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Mood Affective Disorders / Suicide Oppositional-Defiant Disorders Self-Injury Diversity Diversity Issues Immigration/Immigrant Issues Mood Disorders Bipolar Disorder Depression Dysthymia Subdisciplines - International Psychology Psychology Subdisciplines - School Psychology PTSD/Trauma Crisis Intervention School Psychology Academic Interventions Cognitive Assessment Systems Change Violence Bullying School Violence Licenses
Licensed Clinical Psychologist , Puerto Rico Licensed Clinical Psychologist , Chicago, IL Certified School Psychologist , USA Publications
Chapter Stevens, M. & McGrath, B. (2017). A stand-alone course on international psychology.. In G. Rich, U.P. Gielen, & H. Takooshian (Ed.) Internationalizing the teaching of psychologyCharlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Encyclopedia McGrath, B. (2014). Special education in Ireland. In C.R. Reynolds, K.J. Vannest, & E. Fletcher (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Special Education–fourth edition: A reference for the education of children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and other exceptional individuals.. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Journal Villarreal Sosa, L. & McGrath, B. (2013). Collaboration from the ground up: Creating effective teams.. School Social Work Journal, 38 (1),
Magazine Torres, K & McGrath, B. (2018). UX is not Extra. Chief Learning Officer. (March). https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2018/03/07/online-learning-ux-not-extra/.
Newspaper DeHoff, L., Hatzichristou, C., Mayes, F., McGrath, B., Rexilius, A., Sundvall, J. & Zarqa- Lederman, S.. "International collaboration on psychosocial support for refugee children in Greece.." NASP Communique. [] 2016: . Print.
McGrath, B. "Mental Health in Schools: Serving the Whole Child." Communique. [] 2010, 39(4): 8-10. Print.
Question and Answer
Please describe your teaching philosophy. Teaching is an exciting form of learning - savor each moment
Why did you choose to enter the field of psychology? I was just following my passion! Psychology has interested me since adolescence.
What advice would you give to a student entering The Chicago School? Read as much as you can - it will help you define and explore your passion.
Professional Skills
Teaching and Learning, Social Emotional Skill Development, Child and Adolescent psychology, Anxiety and Stress, Aspergers Syndrome, Disability advocacy, Diversity issues, Learning disabilities, Mood disorders, Personality disorders, Assessment and Evaluation, International Psychology, Higher Education, School Psychology
