Louis Castonguay, PhD, on Practice Research Networks, Mutual Respect in Science, and the Joy of Collaboration

Louis Castonguay, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Penn State University and a leading figure in contemporary psychotherapy research. With a career spanning decades, Dr. Castonguay has focused on what truly makes psychotherapy work—examining the variables that shape client outcomes, therapeutic relationships, and the process of change. 

But perhaps what sets him apart most is his leadership in Practice Research Networks (PRNs), collaborative research communities that unite clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to study therapy as it actually happens in real-world settings. In this episode, we talk about how these networks got started, what keeps them going, and why Dr. Castonguay believes collaboration across differences isn’t just productive—it’s essential. 

We also explore the balance between research rigor and clinical relevance, the hidden power of motivation and respect in research partnerships, and how his counterphobic drive led him to take on big challenges others avoided. This is a rich, behind-the-scenes look at a man who’s helped change the culture of clinical research by running toward the hard stuff—with humility and heart.

In this episode, you’ll learn… 

• What Practice Research Networks are and why they matter.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}