About Brian A. Sharpless, Ph.D.
I am a clinical psychologist with a practice in the greater Frederick, Maryland area. Although currently licensed in both Virginia and Maryland, I am authorized through PSYPACT (the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact) to provide teletherapy services to residents of most other participating states and the District of Columbia. Please click here to check the status of your home state. If you are not residing in the US, I may be able to conduct specialty assessments or therapy depending upon your home country (e.g., Poland; the United Kingdom). Please read the sections below and my other pages if you are interested in more specific information.
Academic Training
Degrees
Additional Training
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
- M.A., Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University
- M.S., Clinical Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
- B.A., Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
- B.A., Philosophy, Pennsylvania State University
- Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (Center for Psychotherapy Research)
- Post-Doctoral Clinical Fellow, University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Hospital)
- Clinical Fellowship, Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia
- Teaching Fellow, American Psychoanalytic Association’s (APsaA) Teachers’ Academy
- Clinical Internship (APA-approved), University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Hospital)
Clinical Specializations
Though trained to work with many problems (e.g., anxiety disorders, depression, trauma), I have extensive experience working with the following:
- Personality Disorders (e.g., narcissistic, borderline, schizotypal)
- Sleep Disorders (e.g., insomnia, sexsomnia, isolated sleep paralysis, exploding head syndrome, REM sleep behavioral disorder)
- Unusual and Rare Psychological Conditions
- Psychotherapy for Psychologists/ Other Mental Health Professionals
- Clinical Diagnostic Assessment / Differential Diagnosis (e.g., formal psychological assessments using reliable and valid clinical instruments for major mental health conditions, rare conditions, and personality disorders)
A good portion of my practice also consists of providing clinical supervision of other professionals (e.g., short-term consultation or ongoing therapy supervision). This generally takes place using contemporary forms of psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies.
Academic Appointments
Though currently in private practice, I have held several academic appointments over the years, listed here from most to least recent:
- Goldsmiths, University of London — Visiting Research Fellow (honorary appointment)
- St. Mary’s College of Maryland — Visiting Associate Professor
- American School of Professional Psychology — Associate Professor
- Washington State University — Assistant Professor
- Pennsylvania State University — Clinical Assistant Professor
Academic Interests and Publishing
Research Interests
Books
In order for patients to receive the best possible care, it is important for their providers to stay up-to-date with current research. My research, teaching, and clinical interests allow me to offer broad, current, evidence-based care. I have published articles and chapters on the following topics:
- Common disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Lesser-known psychological disorders (e.g., exploding head syndrome),
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Professional issues (e.g., competence, psychologist licensure)
- The history and philosophy of clinical psychology
I am an author and reviewer for Oxford University Press and various professional journals as well as for the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders, Research Version (SCID-5-RV), a major diagnostic instrument.
Academic Books
- In Press – The Clinical Handbook of Psychodynamic Therapies, Guilford Press (Edited with Jacques Barber, Ph.D.)
- 2019 – Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques: A Guide to Expressive and Supportive Interventions, Oxford University Press
- 2017 – Unusual and Rare Psychological Disorders: A Handbook for Clinical Practice and Research, Oxford University Press (Edited)
- 2015 – Sleep Paralysis: Historical, Psychological, and Medical Perspectives, Oxford University Press (co-authored with Karl Doghramji, M.D.)
Popular Press books
- 2024 – Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind your Favorite Horror Movies, Chicago Review Press
Public Speaking, Trainings, and Science Outreach
I have presented research at national and international conferences (including in the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, and Sweden) and have led workshops offering CE and CME credits. I have also trained and supervised therapists, researchers, and diagnosticians at the institutions listed above, including diagnosticians for several NIMH-funded grants.
Beyond academic settings, I regularly speak for popular science organizations such as Mensa and Profs & Pints in the United States, Skeptics in the Pub thoughout the United Kingdom, and the Ratio Organization for Popular Science in Bulgaria. My work has been featured in television programs including National Geographic, Unsolved Mysteries, History’s Greatest Mysteries, The Shocking Truth, and Mysteries Decoded, as well as in outlets such as The Huffington Post, The Boston Globe, New York Magazine, and the BBC.