Speaking, Lectures, and Workshops

Brian A. Sharpless, Ph.D. – Psychologist, Researcher, and Author

Translating Clinical and Research Expertise into Engaging Talks for Public and Professional Audiences

Author and editor of 5 books, with more than 55 professional publications spanning rare and unusual disorders, psychotherapy, and the history of psychology

From horror-movie psychology and sleep paralysis to narcissism and conspiracy theories, I give talks that are both rigorous and entertaining.

Speaking Inquiries

Brian A. Sharpless, Ph.D., presenting to a crowd in Sofia, Bulgaria

Speaking in Sofia, Bulgaria for the Ratio Organization for Popular Science

As Seen On (also see Media page)

Public and Popular Lectures

Engaging psychology presentations for general audiences, comedy clubs, and speaker series

Below are some of my most frequently requested talks — but this is far from a complete list. I’m happy to discuss custom topics tailored to your audience or event.

Monsters on the Couch – Four real psychological disorders behind your favorite horror movies
Monsters on the Couch: The Sequel – Sequel to MOTC covering four different disorders
The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories – Why smart, reasonable people believe conspiracy theories
“Kink” or “Disorder”? – How psychologists think about sex and sexual disorders
Reflecting on Narcissism – The myth, reality, and treatment of narcissistic personality disorder
Sleep Paralysis: The Original Nightmare – The science, myth, history, and cultural impact of sleep paralysis
Terror in the Night: Three Unusual Sleep Disorders – Exploding head syndrome and two other strange sleep disorders
Strange Psychological Disorders – A tour of four rare and unusual disorders that even your doctor has not heard of
Stranger(er) Psychological Disorders – A tour of four more rare and unusual disorders
Clinical Lycanthropy– The real werewolves (and were-gerbils) among us from antiquity to the present
The Psychology of Witchcraft Panics – A look into contributing factors of these strange occurrences in both the past and recent present
Personality Disorders 101 – An introduction to the ten main personality disorders
Insomnia 101 – An introduction to Insomnia and how we can all sleep better

Professional Lectures and Trainings

Clinical workshops, supervision training, and CE/CME lectures for psychologists and other mental health professionals

These are among my most requested professional trainings — additional topics are available based on your organization’s specific needs. Get in touch to discuss a customized workshop.

An Introduction to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy – Foundational training in the history, fundamental skills, and empirical basis of contemporary psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques – A skills-based workshop on expressive and supportive psychodynamic interventions
The Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT) – A workshop focused on formulating and using the CCRT in day-to-day clinical practice
Beyond the DSM-5 – Rare psychological disorders in clinical practice, folklore, and popular culture
Terror in the Night – Phenomenology and treatment of isolated sleep paralysis, exploding head syndrome, and nightmare disorder
Sleep and Sleep-Related Disorders – Clinical assessment and treatment of various parasomnias (e.g., sexsomnia)
On the Treatment of Narcissism – Clinical approaches to assessing and treating narcissistic personality disorder
Diagnostic Interviewing Training – Reliable, valid use of semi-structured clinical interviews (e.g., SCID, ADIS) presented as either a standalone workshop or ongoing reliability training/supervision
Freud today? REALLY? – A consideration of Freud’s legacy and psychodynamic therapy in the present time
The EPPP: New Data and Old Questions – Research-based insight on EPPP performance, preparation, and differences in performance according to certain demographic variables
Clinical Supervision – Ongoing or short-term supervision for psychologists and mental health professionals from psychodynamic and/or cognitive-behavioral perspectives
Consultation on Complex or Treatment-Resistant Cases – Short-term consultation for clinical impasses and unusual presentations

NOTE: Several topics — including narcissism and parasomnias — are available in both public-lecture and clinical/CE formats. Inquire for a version tailored to your particular audience.

Where I've Spoken (see a list of upcoming and past talks below)

A selection of the organizations and institutions that have hosted my talks and trainings

Public Speaking and Science Outreach

Center for Inquiry (CFI, 2x); Mensa (2x); National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS, 4x); Profs & Pints (many x and US locations since 2019); Ratio Organization for Popular Science (Bulgaria, 5x since 2018); Skeptics in the Pub (8x, various UK locations)

Academic & Medical Institutions

Adelphi University; George Mason University; Goldsmiths, University of London (UK); Karolinska Institute (Sweden); Parnassia Psychiatric Institute (Netherlands); Pennsylvania State University; Rutgers University; Stockholm University (Sweden); Thomas Jefferson University; University of Pennsylvania

Professional Groups

Alma; American Psychological Association (APA); Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC); Association of Psychology Training Clinics; European Congress of Psychiatry; Mid-Atlantic Internship Consortium; Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR); Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine; World Sleep Society

Some Photos

Upcoming and Past Talks

Sharpless, B.A. (2026). Reflecting on Narcissism: Myths, Realities, and Treatments

Lecture, September 16th, for Profs & Pints, Triple Crossing Fulton Brewpub, Richmond, VA.
Lecture, September 9th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD.
Lecture, August 1st, for The Contemporary American Theater Festival, Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV.

Sharpless, B.A. Kink or Disorder? How Psychologists Think About Sex and Sexual Disorders. Public lectures for the Valentine’s season:

Lecture, February 12th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD.
Lecture, February 2nd, for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2026, January 13th). On the Treatment of Narcissism. Private training for The Center for Cognitive & Behavioral Health, Fairfax, VA.

Sharpless, B.A., & Blom, J.D. (2025, December 9th). Sleep and Sleep-Related Disorders. Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague, Netherlands.

Sharpless, B.A. (2025, October). It Came from Within. Public Lectures on my book, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind your Favorite Horror Movies:

Lecture, October 12th, It Came from Within, for Profs & Pints, Crooked Run Fermentation, Sterling, VA.
Lecture, October 13th, It Came from Within, for Profs & Pints, The Perch, Baltimore, MD.
Lecture, October 14th, It Came from Within, for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2025, September 29th). Beyond the DSM-5: Rare Psychological Disorders in Clinical Practice, Folklore, and Popular Culture. (Online workshop for the clinical education program of Alma)

Sharpless, B.A. (2025, May – September). The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories.

Lecture, September 14th, for Profs & Pints, encore talk at Triple Crossing Fulton Brewpub, Richmond, VA.
Lecture, August 10th, for Profs & Pints, Triple Crossing Fulton Brewpub, Richmond, VA.
Lecture, July 17th, for Profs & Pints, Graduate Charlottesville Hotel, Charlottesville, VA.
Lecture, July 9th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD.
Lecture, June 10th, for Profs & Pints, encore talk at The Graduate, Annapolis, MD.
Lecture, May 27th, for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.
Lecture, May 18th, for Profs & Pints, Crooked Run Fermentation, Sterling, VA.
Lecture, May 13th, for Profs & Pints, The Graduate, Annapolis, MD.

Sharpless, B.A. (2025). Kink or Disorder? How Psychologists Think About Sex and Sexual Disorders.

Lecture, February 25th, for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.
Lecture, February 6th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD

Sharpless, B.A. (2025). Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques. (Two-part online workshop for the clinical education program of Alma)

Workshop, February 17th
Webinar, February 3rd

Sharpless, B.A. (2024, November 13th). Insomnia 101. Private lecture for The Collective, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. 2024 Public Lectures for my book, Monsters on the Couch:

Lecture, October 16th, Monsters on the Couch: The Sequel. Skeptics in the Pub Greenwich, Star of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom.
Lecture, October 15th, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Skeptics in the Pub Cambridge,
Blue Moon Pub, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Lecture, September 22nd. The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Carl Sagan/Ann Druyan theater, Center for Inquiry (CFI) West, Los Angeles, CA.

Sharpless, B.A. (2024, September 17th). Understanding Insomnia. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2024). An Introduction to Psychodynamic Therapy. (Three-part online workshop for the clinical education program of Alma)

Case Discussion, August 26th
Workshop, August 22nd
Webinar, August 5th

Sharpless, B.A. (2024). Reflecting on Narcissism: A Look at the Myth, Reality, and Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Lecture , July 14th, for Profs & Pints, Crooked Run Fermentation, Sterling, VA.
Lecture, July 10th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD.

Sharpless, B.A. (2024). The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories.

Lecture, April 17th, for Profs & Pints, Triple Crossing Fulton Brewpub, Richmond, VA
Lecture, April 14th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD.

Sharpless, B.A. (2024). Kink or Disorder? How Psychologists Think About Sex and Sexual Disorders.

Lecture, March 26th, for Ratio Organization of Popular Science, Sofia Live Club, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Lecture, February 14th, for Profs & Pints, Guilford Hall Brewery, Baltimore, MD.
Lecture, February 13th, for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC
Lecture, February 12th, for Profs & Pints, Triple Crossing Fulton Brewpub, Richmond, VA
Lecture, February 4th, for Profs & Pints, Crooked Run Fermentation, Sterling, VA.

Sharpless, B.A. (2024, January 23rd). The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. Book release activities for Monsters on the Couch:

Lecture, October 31st, It Came from Within. Profs & Pints, DC, Penn Social/Little Penn Coffee House, Washington, DC.
Lecture, October 24th, It Came from Within. Profs & Pints, Richmond, Triple Crossing – Fulton Brewpub, Richmond, VA.
Lecture, October 21st, Clinical Lycanthropy: The Real Werewolves (and Were-Gerbils) Among Us. National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS), Morella Library, Bethesda, MD.
Lecture, October 5th, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Skeptics in the Pub Greenwich, Star of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom.
Lecture, October 4th, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Skeptics in the Pub Essex, The Woolpack, Chelmsford, United Kingdom.
Lecture, October 3rd, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Skeptics in the Pub Brighton, Grand Central Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom.
Lecture, September 27th, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Ratio Organization of Popular Science. Sofia Live Club, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Lecture, July 8th, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. MENSA’s Annual Gathering (National Meeting), Baltimore Inner Harbor Hilton, Baltimore, MD.

Sharpless, B.A. (2023 October 28th). Training the Next Generation of Clinicians and Researchers (Round Table Discussion with Drs Ulrike Dinger, Nili Solomonov, Kevin McCarthy, Sigal Zilcha-Mano, & Katie Aafjes Van Doorn), Festschrift for Professor Jacques Barber. Adelphi University Garden City, NY.

Sharpless, B.A. (2023 September 8th). Treatment Options for Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis. Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine Early Career Consultation (Online Webinar).

Sharpless, B.A. (2023, May 16th). Reflecting on Narcissism: A Look at the Myth, Reality, and Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Graduate Charlottesville Hotel, Charlottesville, VA.

Sharpless, B.A (2023, May 12th). Sleep Paralysis: Historical, Psychological, and Medical Perspectives. The Annual Jefferson Sleep Medicine Symposium. Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

Sharpless, B.A. (2023, April 16th). Reflecting on Narcissism: A Look at the Myth, Reality, and Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Metrobar, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2023, February 19th). Kink or Disorder? Public lecture for Profs and Pints, Metrobar, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2022, September 16th). Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques. Online workshop presented through the American Psychological Association’s Compact Webinar series. Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2022, August 13th). Are We All Conspiracy Theorists? Lecture for Metropolitan Washington MENSA (Regional Meeting), Reston Sheraton Hotel, Reston, VA.

Sharpless, B.A. (2022, May 31st). Personality Disorders 101. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Church Hall, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2022, April 11th). The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP): Old Questions and New Data. Grand Rounds presented for the Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Sharpless, B.A. (2022, February 15th). “Kink” or “Disorder”? A Look at How Psychology Approaches Unusual Sexual Behaviors. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Church Hall, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2021, January 18th). Reflecting on Narcissists: A Look at the Myth, Reality, and Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Church Hall, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2021, September 21st). The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Church Hall, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2021, July 28th). The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. Colloquium for the Mid-Atlantic Internship Consortium, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2021, July 20th). Narcissism. Ratio Organization of Popular Science. Kino Cabana, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Sharpless, B.A. (2020, October 23rd). The Horror Within: The Real-Life Psychological Disorders Behind your Favorite Movie Monsters. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2020, August). EPPP Scores and Demographics. In. B.A. Sharpless’s (Chair) The Examination for Professional Practice In Psychology (EPPP): New Data and Old Questions. Symposium presented at the 128th annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2020, July 23rd). Reflecting on Narcissists: A Look at the Myth, Reality, and Treatment of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2020, May 22nd). The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. Public online lecture for Profs & Pints, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2020, March 25th). The Psychological Disorders Behind Horror Movies. Monster Talk (podcast).

Sharpless, B.A. (2019, October 17th). Terror on the Couch: Psychological Disorders and Horror Movies. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, Social Circle Bistro at the Cambria Hotel, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A., Turner, M., & Boyd, B. (2019, October 1st). EPPP Outcomes and Test-Taking Strategies for Graduate Students of Color. Webinar presented to APAGS, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2019, September 24th). Bizarre Psychological Disorders II: From FoMO to Frotteurism. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, DC Comedy Loft and Bier Barron Tavern, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2019, September 17th). Weird(er) Psychological Disorders: Sex, Death, and Amputation. Ratio Organization of Popular Science. Sofia, Bulgaria.

Sharpless, B.A. (2019, June). Isolated Sleep Paralysis and Exploding Head Syndrome: Two Understudied, but Clinically-Significant Parasomnias. Colloquium presented at the Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, PA.

Sharpless, B.A. (2019, June 11th). Bizarre Psychological Disorders: An Encore Presentation. Public lecture for Profs & Pints, DC Comedy Loft and Bier Barron Tavern, Washington, DC.

Sharpless, B.A. (2019, April 30th). Bizarre Psychological Disorders. Public lecture for Profs and Pints, La Pop, Washington, DC.

Klikova, M., & Sharpless. B.A. (2019, April). Characteristic Symptoms and Hallucinations in Isolated Sleep Paralysis: A Two-Site Study. Poster presented at the 27th annual meeting of the European Congress of Psychiatry, Warsaw, Poland.

Sharpless. B.A. (2018, November 29th). Isolated sleep paralysis and exploding head syndrome: Two understudied yet clinically-important parasomias. Colloquium at the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

Sharpless, B.A. (2018, August 23rd). Freud in 2018? REALLY? Ratio Organization of Popular Science. Sofia, Bulgaria.

Sharpless, B.A. (2018, August 21st) Weird Psychological Disorders. Ratio Organization of Popular Science. Sofia, Bulgaria.

Sharpless, B.A. (2017, October). Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis and exploding head syndrome. In. B.A. Sharpless’s (Chair) Parasomnias: Recent Advances in Etiology, Assessment, and Treatment. Symposium at World Sleep 2017: A joint congress of the World Association of Sleep Medicine and the World Sleep Federation, Prague, Czech Republic.

Sharpless, B.A. (2017, February). The original Nightmare: Sleep paralysis and the paranormal. National Science Foundation, National Capital Area Skeptics, Arlington, VA.

Sharpless. B.A. (2016, November). The original Nightmare: The psychology and mythology of sleep paralysis. Colloquium at the Department of Psychology, Goldsmith’s University of London, Greenwich, London, UK.

Sharpless. B.A. (2016, November). The history and psychology of two witchcraft panics: What have we learned in 300 years. Skeptics in the Pub, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.

Sharpless, B.A. (2016, November). Disorders of sleep and wakefulness (Program Chair). Day 1 of content at the 2016 Sleep Summit, Greenwich, London, UK.

Sharpless, B.A. (2016, February). Do we REALLY need psychodynamic therapies in 2016? Paper presented at the Psychotherapy Training Program, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Ascher, R., Sharpless, B.A., Underdown, J., & Borie, F. (2015, September). Discussion panel on Rodney Ascher’s The Nightmare. Steve Allen Theater at the Center for Inquiry, Los Angeles, CA.

Sharpless, B.A., & Zimmerman, J.A. (2015, August). Exploding head syndrome. In. B.A. Sharpless (Chair), Strange Happenings in the Night: The Phenomenology and Treatment of Parasomnias. Symposium conducted at the 123rd annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Sharpless, B.A. (2015, June). Scary happenings in the night: Sleep paralysis, exploding head syndrome, and their associations with anomalous beliefs. Skeptics in the Pub, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.

Sharpless, B.A. (2014, June). A brief introduction to exploding head syndrome. Skeptics in the Pub, Greenwich, UK.