Jonathan Shedler Ph.D.

About

Jonathan Shedler, Ph.D., is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.

Recent Posts

It’s Time for Psychology to Lead, Not Follow

Psychology should not be more like medicine. Psychology should be like psychology.

This Is Talk Therapy

Therapist and patient may have the illusion that they have completed therapy when real therapy never even started.

A Psychiatric Diagnosis is Not a Disease

Saying anxiety is caused by generalized anxiety disorder makes as much sense as saying anxiety is caused by anxiety.

Selling Bad Therapy to Trauma Victims

It takes more than 20 sessions, or about six months of weekly therapy, before therapy patients start to improve.

How to Choose a Therapist

Beware of therapists who are too identified with a therapy “brand.” They have already decided how to treat you before they have met you, let alone understand you.

Beware of therapists who are too identified with a therapy “brand.” They have already decided how to treat you before they have met you, let alone understand you.

The Therapy Relationship in Psychodynamic Therapy Versus CBT

Some therapists have no idea what a "therapeutic alliance" means.

Some therapists have no idea what a "therapeutic alliance" means.

Is your antidepressant a placebo or a miracle drug?

You're feeing better. Is it really the drug?

You're feeing better. Is it really the drug?

Don’t Tell Me to Call 911

Therapists don't need voicemail messages that demean their patients.

Therapists don't need voicemail messages that demean their patients.

Psychodynamic Therapy 101

Sometimes people think they have completed psychotherapy when they never even started.

Sometimes people think they have completed psychotherapy when they never even started.

Bamboozled by Bad Science

Claims that “evidence-based” therapy is more effective than real-world therapy lack scientific basis. Academic researchers are selling a myth.

Claims that “evidence-based” therapy is more effective than real-world therapy lack scientific basis. Academic researchers are selling a myth.