About

Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and consultant.

An expert on the impact of technology on child development and mental health, education and family relationships, her focus is ensuring that today’s students – our children – have not just the technological tools they need as they inherit the AI future, but the tools of our humanity – the empathy, ethics, social and emotional intelligence and cultural competencies they will need to thrive in our ever-changing interconnected world.

Since the 2013 publication of her award-winning book, The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age (a Wall Street Journal Best Nonfiction Book of 2013), Dr. Steiner-Adair has consulted internationally about how to reap the benefits and minimize the risks of tech use for all ages, whether at home, school and work.  Most recently, she has led workshops and trainings for educators, parents, health professionals and organizations about political trauma and the Covid pandemic, focusing on mental health, cultural competencies and enhancing school / work engagement and community. 

Over the past several years, Dr. Steiner-Adair has worked with school communities in times of crisis including when evidence of ethical violations emerge, working closely with Heads of School, Boards and leadership teams, faculty, staff, students, parents and alums on restorative practices, rebuilding community trust and strengthening school culture.

As a keynote speaker and consultant, Dr Steiner-Adair has been invited to present at professional development and continuing education conferences throughout the United States, and in Europe, South America, Central America, the Middle East and Asia. Her audiences include educators and mental health professionals, non-profit organizations, industry and corporations, PTAs, YPOs and other leadership organizations, synagogues and clergy groups, camping and youth organizations, retreats and think tanks, and at organizational fundraising events.  She is also a highly sought-after resource to the media.

Dr. Steiner-Adair received her BA from Bowdoin, her Doctorate from Harvard and worked earlier as a school psychologist at Phillips Academy Andover.  She was a Clinical Psychologist and Research Associate at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years and was on the faculty of the Family Institute of Cambridge for 10 years.  She has written three books and numerous academic papers and has contributed chapters to books on child development, education, parenting, psychotherapy, and technology. She serves on the Challenge Success Advisory Board amongst others and is the Scholar-in-Residence at the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute.

Along with her work as a consultant, Catherine continues to deepen her 30+ year practice as a clinical psychologist working with individuals, couples and families. Her psychotherapy work has moved online since the pandemic.