My Professional Background and Experience
In 2003, I received my PhD from the prestigious Clinical Psychology program at the University of Washington, where my clinical training and research focused on anxiety, stress, and addictions. My PhD thesis focused on the stress and anxiety of air travel, comparing it before and after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. During my training, I served as a research therapist in a large National Institutes of Health funded clinical trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for panic and anxiety. I published a scientific paper from this study. I also received extensive training in therapies for helping people overcome substance use addictions.
In 2004, I opened my part-time private practice so that I could realize my passion of helping adults live free from anxiety and addictions. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of patients stay motivated and learn how to be successful in overcoming these challenges. My most gratifying work has been helping patients cope with social anxiety and shame. They are now taking social risks, getting rewarded for that from family and friends, being more kind to themselves, and feeling more confident in public speaking, in conversations, and in relationships.
I have been an invited international keynote speaker and have given workshops to therapists, universities, and professional organizations on my approach and experience treating patients. I’m a founding member of the Science Council for the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science, a global professional group devoted to contextual behavioral therapy. Outside of my practice, I am a Full Professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, where I founded and lead a research team in a variety of large multi-million dollar clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health. We are testing cutting-edge behavioral therapies for improving self-control, including those for stopping tobacco, improving diet, and exercise. As an Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington Department of Psychology, I am passionate about mentoring the next generation of behavioral scientists. I mentor students in their theses and teach them how to conduct, publish research, and be a fully integrated member of a scientific team. I am a Senior Editor of the scientific journal Addiction, the most influential journal on this topic.
My Personal Life
My personal life is full of the joys of having a family. My wife and I are together raising two curious, bright, and energetic young children. We take adventures together on the weekends and holidays and are showing them the rich outdoor offerings of the Pacific Northwest as well as traveling around the world. I also oversee the care of my elderly father.
I enjoy running, yoga, relaxing at the sauna, spending an evening with good friends, or going to an indie rock concert. In the summers, I backpack with friends and family. Epic trips have included the Rainier National Park’s Wonderland Trail, the Deschutes/Willamette National Forests’ Three Sisters Trail, and the Ansel Adams Wilderness’s Mammoth Lakes trails.
