About Shannon Sauer-Zavala, PhD

I know it sounds cliché, but I became a psychologist because genuinely wanted to help people.

And I believed that developing more effective, accessible treatments was the best way to  move the needle.

So for the past 15+ years, I studied personality change. I published papers (so many papers), ran clinical trials, and presented my findings at conferences.

And at some point, I realized something uncomfortable: My science was mostly being shared with other academics.

But everyone deserves access to proven tools that can  shift the patterns that hold them back from the lives they want.

So, I started translating my science.

First, by training therapists to use my methods  with their own clients. 

Then more broadly—I gave a TED talk, started going on podcasts, and even had my 15 minutes of fame  on CBS Sunday Morning.

But even then, something still felt incomplete.

I was sharing information, but not giving people a clear way to take action.

So, I started writing practical self help books - like BPD Compass and The Personality Edit (coming Aug 2027).

And creating online programs so everyone has access to the very same programs I provide in my clinical trials.