Ayo Maria Gooden, Ph.D. ABPBC, LLC

Credentials

Dr. Ayo Maria Casey Gooden is a Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania. Prior to moving to Pennsylvania, Dr. Ayo was a Licensed Psychologist in Kentucky and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. Her B.A. was earned in Psychology with minors in Black Studies and Spanish from The Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

Training and Experience

Dr. Ayo has been in the Mental Health field for over 40 years. Dr. Ayo uses a variety of therapeutic strategies to address the needs of her clients including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She specializes in African Centered/Black Psychology and is Board Certified by the Association of Black Psychologists (www.abpsi.org). Clients of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are seen in her practice.

Teaching

Graduate Courses Taught

• Growth and Human Development
• Primary Prevention
• Crisis Intervention and Mental Health

Undergraduate Courses Taught

• General Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Race, Ethnicity and Health
• Clinical Psychology (Assessment)
• Freshman Seminar
• Relationships Between African American Men and Women
• Spirituality (guest lecturer)
• Suicide (guest lecturer)

Community Based Courses

Ma'at University, Inc.: Community-based educational institute founded by Ayo Maria Casey Gooden Sanyika.

• Suicide
• Racism
• Parenting
• Stress Management
• Educating Black Children
• Male-Female Relationships
• The Impact of Media on Behavior
• The Psychology of African Americans
• Mental Health Among African Americans
• Africa's Contribution to World Civilizations

Workshops-National, Regional & Local:

• Black history
• Leadership Skills
• A.I.D.S. prevention
• Stress management
• Violence prevention
• The effects of racism
• Male-female relationships
• Multi-cultural sensitivity and awareness
• Suicide

Consulting

• Media (electronic--film, video, and print)
• Program evaluations
• Employers
• Educational Institutions (Recruitment and Retention of Students, Faculty and Employees)
• Government (Local, State, Federal)
• Correctional Institutions
• Group Homes
• Courts
• Attorneys
• Physicians
• Dentists
• Nursing Homes
• Retirement Homes

Selected Invited Presentations

• A Culturally Specific Approach To Assessing, Treating And Preventing Suicide Risk: Suicide, Attempted Suicide And Parasuicide Among African Americans And Other Melanics (A term coined by Dr. Ayo Gooden to more accurately refer to People of Color), Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, November 5, 2010.
• A Culturally Specific Approach to Assessing Suicide Risk: Suicide and Parasuicide Among African Americans and Other Melanics (People of Color). The Association of Counseling Center Faculty (ACCF) Fall (statewide) Conference. State College, PA. October 23, 2009.
• To Protect and Empower: Unionism in Higher Education, Proceedings of APSCUF/PSE Conference on Labor in Higher Education. Harrisburg, PA. October 15-17, 2009.
• Minding Your Business, Maintaining and Prospering Together. A Professional Development Seminar panel sponsored by The Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists. September 23, 2009.
• Dr. Feel Good: Managing Stress and Depression. 103.9 FM Radio, Saturday, July 11, 2009.
• Taking Care of Yourself at College: How To Get A's and Still Have Fun. College Access Center of Delaware County, Chester, PA, April 18, 2009.
• Code of Ethics: One Who Hurts Others Hurts Himself. Career Day presentation for the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists. Community College of Philadelphia, February 28, 2009,
• The Learning Of Things Is Better Than The Ignorance Of Them: Reducing The Trauma Associated With Taking the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. Career Day presentation for the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists. Community College of Philadelphia. February 28, 2009.
• Ethics and Treatment in Correctional Institutions. A panel discussion for the Currant- Fromhold Correctional Institution in Philadelphia, PA. February 6, 2009.
• Trouble Don't Last Always: Black Women's Triumps in Psychology. The Graduate School Experience for Black Women at the University of Cincinnati. Panel presentation with other graduates of the University of Cincinnati Graduate Department of Psychology. A Symposium Celebrating the Life and Achievements of Dr. Inez Beverly Prosser (first African American woman to earn a doctorate in psychology). University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. April 3-4, 2008.
• Academic Success: Challenges and Solutions. Presenter with Dr. Jay Clifford, Dr. Deidre Farmbry, & Umar R. Abdullah-Johnson. Professional Development Workshop, African for Life for the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists. Community College of
• Philadelphia, 17th and Spring Garden Streets, Winnet Building, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. March 26, 2008.

Cable Productions

Dr. Ayo was the producer of a Cheyney University video production, The Imhotep Program. Dr. Ayo wrote The Imhotep Program as a grant funded by the HBCU-Center for Excellence in Substance Abuse and Mental Health (Grant Number TI-020447) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Sponsors: Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists, the African American Chamber of Commerce, and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. The program was designed to be aired on the campus of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. This production was designed to teach Cheyney students about African-Centered Psychology, how to improve their personal mental health, and the types of careers in behavioral health. Students participated in a video-taped game show, The Imhotep Program, and competed for prizes.

• The Imhotep Program, a Televised Video Game Show On Behavioral Health Careers and African Centered Psychology, at Cheyney University from grant funds by Morehouse School of Medicine, spring, 2010.
• Act 101/Talent Improvement Motivational Program (T.I.M.E.). Promotional video. Lincoln University. 2001.
• Black History Quiz. Producer, writer, host. Game show with high school student contestants. Lorain, Ohio. 1985.
• Looking Beyond the Numbers: Desegregation and Quality Education. NAACP, School Desegregation and You. Lorain, Ohio. 1984.
• Up Close And Personal. Associate producer, camera person. Series on Cincinnatians in various occupations. Cincinnati, Ohio. 1982.

Radio Programs

• Dr. Feel Good: Managing Stress and Depression. 103.9 FM Radio, Saturday, July 11, 2009.
• Recruitment and Retention of College Students. For the Delaware Valley Association of Black Psychologists on the WWUD AM Radio, Philadelphia. August 2002.
• The Voice of Ma'at. WJTB Radio Northridgeville/Elyria/Lorain/Oberlin Ohio. Weekly radio program addressing issues facing African Americans and other Melanics (People of Color). 1989-1990.

Research

• Distinguishing Suicide from Parasuicide among African Americans
• Black Suicide: Prodromal Signs Using the Psychological Autopsy

Grants

• HBCU-CFE Mental Health Grant for $10,000 on September 25, 2009.
• Healthy Lifestyle Initiative Wellness Grant-Kung Fu for $1,000 spring 2009.
• PASSHE Diversity Grant--Disability Training for Faculty for $8,500 fall 2007.
• SAMHSA grant for $200,000 in 2007.
• PA Dept of Education Act 101 Grant for 2007-2008 academic year in the amount of $188,000 for Cheyney University.
• PA Dept of Education Act 101 Grants $156,000 to $188,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (written 8 times, funded 8 times) for Lincoln University (PA)
• PA Dept of Education 2 Innovative Grants for $30,000 for Lincoln University (PA).
• Tertiary Educational Linkages Program for Lincoln University (PA), contributor for 2 grants 2000 and 2001.

Publications

• Williams, M. T., Gooden, A. M., & Davis, D. (2012). African Americans, European Americans, and Pathological Stereotypes: An African-Centered Perspective. In Psychology of Culture, G. R. Hayes & M. H. Bryant, eds., Nova Science Publishers. ISBN-13: 978-1-62257-274-8.
• To Protect and Empower: Unionism in Higher Education, Brantley, V., Gooden, A., & Petrescu, D., Proceedings of APSCUF/PSE Conference on Labor in Higher Education. Harrisburg, PA. October 15-17, 2009.
• Suicide, Attempted Suicide, and Parasuicide Among Afrikan-Americans, Act 101 Journal, May 2001, Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 7-11.
• Does Milk do a Body Good?, Health is Wealth, Vol. 1, No. 2, Spring 1999, pp 1-2, Lincoln University, Pennsylvania.
• A Single Bracelet Does Not Jingle: Empowering Afrikan Men and Women for Success. A Guide to Finding Your Ideal Mate and Making It Last. Ma'at University Press, 1994.
• The Voice of Ma'at. The Focus Newspaper. Column for Blacks and Latinos. August 1990-May 1993, Lorain, Ohio.
• Why Are Black Mental Health Professionals Important? Ethnicity and Mental Health, Nord Profile, W.G. Nord Community Health Center, Vol. 5, No. 3, fall, 1988 (7), Lorain, Ohio.
• Male-Female Relationships. Ethnicity and Mental Health, Nord Profile, W.G. Nord Community Mental Health Center, Vol. 5, No. 2, Spring, 1988 (7), Lorain, Ohio.
• Developing Positive Self-Concepts. Ethnicity and Mental Health, Nord Profile, W.G. Nord Community Mental Health Center, Vol. 4, No. 3, Fall, 1987 (4), Lorain, Ohio.
• Black Suicide. Ethnicity and Mental Health, Nord Profile, W.G. Nord Community Mental Health Center, Vol. 4, No. 3, Fall, 1987, Lorain, Ohio.
• Black Suicide. Proceedings. American Association of Suicidology, 1982.
• Black Suicide: Prodromal Signs Using The Psychological Autopsy. Proceedings. 13th Annual Convention of the Association of Black Psychologists, 1980.

Offices Held

• DVABPsi President-Elect 2008-2009
• DVABPsi President 2009-2010
• DVABPsi Immediate-Past President 2010-2011
• DVABPsi Nominations and Elections, Chair 2010-2011
• Association of Black Psychologists, Kentuckiana Chapter, First President and Co-Founder