Dr. Cindy E. Hoard

Dr. Cindy E. Hoard

Psychologist, Consultant

Licensed in psychology since 1993, Dr. Cindy E. Hoard has excelled over the course of her impactful career as a child psychologist, a special education teacher, an author, and—since 2013—through her own practice, wielding expertise in autism, special needs consulting, self-care, and family advocacy. She’s a member of the American Psychological Association and the Arizona Psychological Association, from which she received an award in the 1990s, and has worked with Head Start and Early Intervention programs for more than 20 years. She has also dedicated more than 15 years to a clinical trial for deep brain stimulation for depression, which “holds great promise as an experimental treatment.”

In 2023, Dr. Hoard achieved a significant milestone in her field with the publication of the book “Spirit Rising,” which details her own journey with treatment-resistant depression. Serving as both a memoir and an advocacy piece, shedding light on the field of mental health, it aims to educate professionals and families about specific issues while providing information on treatment and care options. Starting from her early life—which was marked by strong encouragement from her parents and her sisters—she underwent a wide range of treatments, therapies, and activities to help herself, and subsequently documented her experience in mental health care across journals, which ultimately culminated in her career path and eventual book.

Additionally, it was her mother’s role as a preschool teacher that sparked Dr. Hoard’s fascination with helping young children from an early age. Wielding a bachelor’s in special education, a master’s in educational psychology, and a Doctor of Education in education psychology, she became a special education teacher with a deep understanding of the needs of children, predominantly from birth to six years old, facing various challenges; her capacity to form individual connections with her students and their families led to incredible breakthroughs and numerous commendations. Her approach, she has said, “integrates aspects of formal religion, world religions, meditation, and mindfulness.”

Looking toward the future, Dr. Hoard is in the process of writing a second book and spends her time conducting workshops. She’s also interested in ongoing consulting opportunities and other related endeavors.

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