Amanda Aster-Mckenna, Psy.D.

Amanda Aster-McKenna, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Montclair, NJ where she specializes in working with trauma and addiction, as well as stress and anxiety management in an adult population utilizing evidence-based approaches to treatment such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other mindfulness and acceptance-based behavioral  therapies. She received her doctoral degree in clinical and school psychology from Kean University in 2016. While Dr. Aster-McKenna enjoys working in a one-on-one personal setting with her clients in private practice, she also enjoys engaging with graduate students in an academic collegial atmosphere where she is able to marry both of her passions - clinical psychology and teaching/supervision. She is able to achieve this in her role as an adjunct professor in the Nathan Weiss Graduate College. Dr. Aster-McKenna holds two Board positions, one with the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris (MHAEM), and the other with the New York City Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (NYC-ACBS). She is also a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)  and the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Aster-McKenna fully embodies the approach of the futility of living in the present moment, especially when hardship arises, and believes in alleviation of human suffering through coming into contact with our heart's deepest desires. Outside of her clinical work and teaching positions, Dr. Aster-McKenna enjoys spending time with her husband - Reggie Jr., her 10-year-old step daughter - Tara, her 1-year-old son - Reggie III, and her miniature Bernadoodle - Lucas. Her family enjoys going on adventures, going to the park, going for long rides in the car, and spending time with family.