Anxiety Research Laboratory by Dr. Brett Deacon

Brett Deacon received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Northern Illinois University in 2002. He completed a predoctoral internship at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Mayo Clinic. He worked at the University of Wyoming from 2004-2014 as an Assistant and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. He relocated to Australia in 2014 and worked as an Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Wollongong for 2.5 years, after which he left to focus on clinical practice, supervision, training, research, and writing. Dr. Deacon trains clinicians in cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy for anxiety, supervises therapists, mentors student research, sees clients in private practice, and conducts research on the nature and treatment of anxiety disorders and related topics.

​Contact Information
E-mail: drbrettdeacon@gmail.com
Address: 12 Alvan Parade, Mount Pleasant, NSW 2519, Australia
Phone: +61 04 1510 1588

Representative Publications

Abramowitz, J. S., Deacon, B. J., & Whiteside, S. P. (2010). Exposure therapy for anxiety: Principles and practice. New York: Guilford Press.

Deacon, B. J. (2013). The biomedical model of mental disorder: A critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 846-861. PDF

Biological vs. Psychological Explanations: How Different Approaches to Eating Disorders Affect Recovery Expectations.

Overcoming Emetophobia: How Exposure Therapy Successfully Treated Fear of Vomiting in a Groundbreaking Case Study

Beyond Brain Disorders: Dr. Brett Deacon’s Critical Examination of the Biomedical Model in Mental Health

Breaking Through the Fog: Effective Techniques for Treating Depersonalization and Derealization in Anxiety Disorders

Interoceptive Exposure Exercises for Evoking Depersonalization and Derealization: A Pilot Study. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 22(4), 321-330.

The Chemical Imbalance Explanation: How It May Harm Rather Than Help Depression Recovery

Effects of a chemical imbalance causal explanation on individuals’ perceptions of their depressive symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 56, 47-52.

The Gap Between Evidence and Practice: Why Anxiety Treatment Often Falls Short

Dissemination of Evidence-Based Practices for Anxiety Disorders in Wyoming: A Survey of Practicing Psychotherapists. Behavior Modification, 37(2), 170-188.

The biomedical model of mental disorder: A critical analysis of its validity, utility, and effects on psychotherapy research. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(7), 846-861.