EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: University of Texas at Austin

  • Predoctoral internship: San Francisco VA Medical Center

  • Postdoctoral 3-yr research fellowship in Behavioral Medicine: University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

ACADEMIC AFFILIATION

Associate Clinical Professor, University of California San Francisco

CLINICAL INTERESTS & EXPERTISE

Dr. Beckner has extensive training in the treatment of anxiety, depression and trauma, and also loves working with clients on strengthening relationships and developing meaningful career and life paths. She is interested in fundamental mechanisms of change in psychotherapy, and integrates behavioral models (CBT and ACT - see "Approach" tab) with approaches that emphasize deep emotional processing and a close therapist-client relationship to facilitate growth (Functional Analytic Psychotherapy and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy). 

Problems:

  • Anxiety

  • PTSD

  • Depression

  • Relationship issues & career path

BLOG: CLICK HERE for Psychology Today Bog

RESEARCH AREAS

  • Neurobiology of stress, anxiety & memory; role of stress hormones (cortisol) in mental and physical symptoms

  • Treatment outcome studies for anxiety disorders, depression, and physical illness (Multiple Sclerosis)

  • Role of therapeutic alliance on treatment outcome

  • Feedback and tracking tools in clinical practice to enhance growth and change

TEACHING / PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

Dr. Beckner is part of the UCSF clinical faculty, and trains medical students and psychiatry residents in psychotherapy principles, CBT, ACT, and the treatment of anxiety & depression. She also conducts workshops for professionals on the following topics:

  • Treatments for anxiety disorders and PTSD

  • Mechanisms of change in psychotherapy across approaches

  • Affective experiential learning & memory in psychotherapy

  • Conditioning and exposure as fundamental learning processes

PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Beckner has published research in peer-reviewed scientific journals CLICK HERE, and is the lead author of the book Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (a self-help book for individuals with PTSD) 

http://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder-Techniques/dp/1592333095

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ROLES

  • Past President, San Francisco Bay Area ACT Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

  • Past President, San Francisco Psychological Association

  • Former Government Affairs Steering committee & Board member, California Psychological Association

  • Former Federal Advocacy Coordinator, American Psychological Association

  • Current member of: American Psychological Association, Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies; Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, Society for Psychotherapy Research, Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy Institute