Dr. Timothy Avery (PSY30850) is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides individual therapy for adults. He integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and short-term psychodynamic therapy to address anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and co-occurring physical and psychological conditions, such as insomnia, nightmares, and chronic pain.

A generalist by training, his clinical and research interests also include complementary and integrative health interventions (CIH). He completed a CIH postdoctoral fellowship jointly with the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine. He has coauthored research articles on posttraumatic growth, outcomes for chronic pain and PTSD treatments, and use of mobile mental health apps in care. At the National Center for PTSD, he facilitated adoption of mobile mental health apps into health care systems. He has also been a Vet Center readjustment counselor and Assistant Chief of Psychology for Specialty Psychology at VA Palo Alto Health Care System.

Prior to becoming a clinical psychologist, Dr. Avery was enlisted and an officer in the US Navy, during which he was an intelligence officer focused on special operations with deployment in a Naval Special Warfare Task Unit. He was also a management consultant for systems implementation and evaluation, primarily at the juncture of information technology and financial management. Dr. Avery volunteers with multiple organizations, with emphasis on life transition post
military service.

He is also a certified yoga teacher and has trained hundreds of teachers and providers in trauma-informed yoga as an instructor with Veterans Yoga Project.

“I believe we all have an inherent ability to heal and grow. Sometimes, however, this ability is thwarted by any number of challenges, some beyond our control and some we can do something about. I truly enjoy listening to people’s challenges, clarifying what really matters, and working together to set free people’s natural abilities for health and growth. It’s there, even if they can’t see it now.

My approach is informed by my multiple careers that help me consider diverse perspectives. These experiences often help me see connections that might not be apparent to others at first. I’ll share these with you, we’ll clarify which are helpful, which are not, and develop solutions that make sense for you. I provide a non-judgmental space where we come to understand ways your patterns may have served you, acknowledge what has brought you to this point in your life and foster what serves your health and wellbeing now and into the future.

Some people like to work with therapists that look or seem like themselves in some way. There is nothing wrong with this preference. Please note, however, that I appreciate working with people who have identities different than I as such difference often leads to no assumptions of instant mutual understanding. We must therefore explore together and leave no automatic thoughts uninvestigated. Such open exploration aids effective therapy, no matter how similar or different we might be.”