2004. Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Behavior with a concentration in Change Processes through Dialogue and a Specialization in Leadership Development, Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, Ohio (Dissertation: "Transformative Conversations: Executive Coaches and Business Leaders in Dialogical Collaboration for Growth").

 
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1998. Certified as Mediator.

1996. Became a Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a Certified Marriage and Family Therapist, Houston-Galveston Institute, Houston, Texas. The training as Family Therapist was received from a Collaborative Language Systems and constructivist theoretical perspective.

1991. Summer Clinical Internship at the Ackerman Institute, New York.

1986. Advance Training in Family Therapy at the Berkshires, Massachusetts with Carlos Sluzki, Salvador Minuchin, Gianfranco Cecchin, and others.

1979-1995. Various postgraduate clinical training programs, seminars, workshops and conferences on Family Therapy.

1978. Master of Arts (Educational and Developmental Psychology), Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan (Project: "How to Have a Successful Marriage: A Program for Premarital Preparation").

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1977. Bachelor of Music, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Other educational experiences include training in the use of several personality tests, like the Sixteen Personality Factor Test (16PF), the Meyer-Bricks Temperament Inventory and the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis, several adult and child intelligence tests, and several projective tests, including the Rorschach Test and others; workshops on the use of Transactional Analysis combined with Gestalt techniques in psychotherapy; and attendance at numerous meetings, workshops, seminars and training sessions in family life education and therapy. Founding member of EIRENE, the Latin American Faculty of Family Counseling and Pastoral Care of the Family.

 

In the year 2004, Dr. Ada was designated as a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Mafrriage and Family Therapists. The AAMFT Clinical Fellow Designation indicates a therapist has completed the rigorous training standards for independent practice of marriage & family therapy and are held to the highest ethical standards. Clinical Fellow Designees demonstrate specific education, clinical training, and supervision in systemic marriage & family therapy. AAMFT Clinical Fellow Designation is recognized by the US state licensure boards and worldwide as the standard for education and training in systemic therapy.

SKILLS