What Jonathan Shedler thinks about curiosity

@jonathan-shedler · 12 positions · On ppll ↗

Clinical psychologist and clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSF. Author of the 2010 meta-analysis that established psychodynamic therapy as an evidence-based treatment, and a persistent critic of how the phrase "evidence-based therapy" is used.

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Only Jonathan Shedler on curiosity. See everyone on curiosity

1 dated position, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Jonathan Shedler has said — not written or endorsed by them.

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1. 22 Jun 2026

   Our readingTelling a patient "your feelings are valid" is not therapy: it is the mirror image of "get a grip", and it makes the therapist a judge of feelings instead of a companion in them.

   Psychotherapy

   Their wordsThe phrase "your feelings are valid" does not invite curiosity or deeper self-understanding, which is the point of psychotherapy. It is the mirror image of "stop whining and get a grip." One sounds warm and one sounds harsh, but neither deepens self-awareness.

   ↗Skilled Therapists Don't Say "Your Feelings Are Valid"jonathanshedler.substack.com