Dr. Barbara Badham

Barbara was born and raised in the Bay Area, a first generation American as the only child of Australian parents.  Her life changed dramatically at age 3 when her father died, leaving her mother and herself 8,000 miles away from any family support. Through this experience, she learned firsthand about the overwhelming challenges faced by a single mother without resources. That experience profoundly impacted her worldview, and instilled the ambition to help others facing hardships.

Barbara earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and holds three licenses in California; as a psychologist in both clinical and educational psychology, and as a marriage & family therapist. Her first internship brought her to Petaluma in 1975, where she began a 40-year career as a school psychologist, opened her private practice of 27 years, and found a new hometown. During her tenure with the Petaluma City School District, she was named Psychologist of the Year by the California Association of School Psychologists, and was awarded a summer scholarship for post-graduate study in psychometrics at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) by the California Department of Education. Barbara also lived in Mexico and speaks Spanish fluently.  Additionally, she taught psychology and special education at UC Berkeley, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, and the University of San Francisco. Her expertise was called upon in the aftermath of the Polly Klaas kidnapping and murder, when she facilitated debriefing efforts in Petaluma and appeared on the Leesa Gibbons’ show with Polly’s father and grandfather.

Barbara retired from both her private practice and her school job in 2014. Looking for a fresh challenge, she was drawn to a social advocacy role that would allow her to serve her constituents “with head and heart, to protect, defend, and empower them.”  CSW offered this opportunity, and she was appointed to her current position in 2016. One of her primary goals is to promote communication and dialogue through writing, teaching, and public speaking activities. She particularly enjoys working with school-age children (K-12) and the elderly, and has had vast experience serving individuals of all ages with mental health challenges and other disabilities.

Barbara lives in Petaluma with her husband Steve and their two dogs.  They also have a second home in Lake Tahoe, where they spend more time since retiring.  Her hobbies include travel, Tai Chi, photography, genealogy, and relearning how to crochet.