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Dr Jeffrey Binder, Ph.D., ABPP

With over 45 years in clinical psychotherapy practice, I appreciate that each person has a unique personal story.

I will help you gain a deeper understanding of your story and we will work together to help you lead a happier, more emotionally fulfilled life.

My understanding of people has grown through years of treating clients with a wide assortment of difficulties. I believe that remaining current with relevant scientific findings and clinical literature enhances my clinical work. I also believe that training young therapists at four universities has sharpened my thinking about how psychotherapy helps people, as well as improving my skills in conducting therapy. A decade doing psychotherapy research also has deepened my understanding about how psychotherapy works. I use a combination of psychodynamic, interpersonal, and cognitive treatment approaches, tailored to your personal situation.

My approach to therapy is individually tailored to your style of dealing with emotional and interpersonal issues, as well as the particular problems you want to address. In developing your treatment plan, I select methods from a variety of established treatment approaches. Each session will incorporate these methods into an ongoing conversation between you and I about past and present experiences that are relevant to your issues.

Issues Dr. Binder Treats

Contact Dr. Binder to Book an Appointment
  • Acute & Chronic Relationship Difficulties
  • Personality Disorders
  • Emotional Distress
  • Loneliness & Isolation
  • Issues Associated with Aging
  • Anxiety & Depression
  • Issues with Narcissism in Self or Close Personal Relationships
  • Life Transitions & Challenges
  • Grief & Loss
  • Work & Career Issues
  • Childhood & Adult Trauma

Board Certified

Board certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology, Dr. Binder is widely recognized for his contributions to contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy and for his commitment to helping patients create meaningful and lasting change.

Vanderbilt University

Dr. Binder is one of the few clinical faculty of the Vanderbilt Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the rank of full Professor. He is sought after locally as a clinical supervisor by junior therapists.

APA Fellow

Dr. Binder is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Fewer than 5% of the members of the Association have been awarded the status of “Fellow.” This distinction formally recognizes significant work that has had national and international impact. It is one of the highest honors that the APA bestows on its members. Dr. Binder’s contributions have been in the areas of psychotherapy innovation, training, and research.

your Treatment Plan

Together we will develop your individualized treatment plan during the first one to three therapy sessions. Each treatment plan consists of:

  • A clear description of the issues that we will be focusing on, as well as your associated life circumstances.
  • A strategy for working on these issues, formulated by understanding the role they play in your personal story.
  • Recommendations about how you can use the understanding we gain in each session to work on the identified issues between sessions.
  • Specific goals that we want to accomplish by the end of treatment.

Duration Of Treatment

My specialty is short-term psychotherapy. I try to conduct treatment as efficiently and effectively as possible. Research has shown that many people can achieve significant benefits within weeks or a few months. More complicated issues will take longer to achieve the desired results.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

Clinical Positions Held

  • Private practice of psychotherapy
  • Director of adolescent and adult inpatient programs of a Psychiatric Hospital in Nashville, TN
  • Director of the outpatient services of a Community Mental Health Center in Charlottesville, VA
  • Chief Psychologist of a Community Mental Health Center in Howell, MI

Academic Positions Held

  • Clinical Professor of Psychiatry (Current), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
  • Professor, Program Chair, Dean, Georgia School of Professional Psychology, Atlanta, GA
  • Research Associate Professor of Psychology, Vanderbilt University Department of Psychology, Nashville, TN
  • Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Virginia Department of Psychiatry, Charlottesville, VA
  • Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI

Books

  • Deliberate Practice in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy with Hana Levinson & Volney Gay (American Psychological Association, 2023)
  • Core Competencies in Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy: Becoming A Highly Competent Brief Dynamic Psychotherapist, with Ephi Betan (Routledge, 2013)
  • Key Competencies in Brief Dynamic Psychotherapy: Clinical Practice Beyond the Manual (Guilford, 2004)
  • Psychotherapy In A New Key: A Guide to Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy, with Hans H. Strupp (Basic Books, 1984)