Dr. Wendy Denham (she/her) is the founder of North Star Families and a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY20898), researcher, clinical supervisor, and trainer specializing in child, adolescent, family, and adult mental health. For more than 20 years, she has helped children, parents, families, and professionals strengthen relationships, attachment, emotional well-being, and the relational capacities that support lifelong mental health.

Dr. Denham earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California Graduate Institute, where she received the Doctoral Research Award, and holds a Master’s degree in Drama Therapy from the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K. and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Queensland in Australia. Following her doctoral training, she conducted research with Columbia University and UCLA while building a clinical and consulting practice focused on child, adolescent, and family mental health.

A nationally recognized expert in Reflective Parenting and parental mentalization, Dr. Denham has coded hundreds of research interviews assessing parental reflective capacity and has seen firsthand how reflective functioning can strengthen attachment, resilience, communication, and emotional well-being. For more than two decades, she has trained and supervised therapists and professionals in reflective practice, assessment, and evidence-based parenting interventions through the Center for Reflective Communities, including collaborations with organizations in Los Angeles and internationally. She has presented nationally, including at Zero to Three’s National Conference, and co-authored research on reflective and mindful parenting. She is also formally trained in the administration and scoring of the ADOS-2 autism assessment.

Dr. Denham currently provides psychological consulting to Disney talent, executives, and production staff, as well as Mobius Leadership and other organizations, helping individuals and teams improve communication, strengthen relationships, and create healthier workplace environments through research-based reflective practices.

Before founding North Star Families, Dr. Denham served as Coordinator of the Infant Mental Health Program at The Maple Counseling Center, where she trained and supervised clinicians working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and their families. She has also collaborated with Twigtale to develop children’s books supporting families through developmental transitions and important life experiences.

Outside of her professional work, Dr. Denham enjoys spending time with her husband and teenagers and considers both Los Angeles and Australia home.