Janet Sonne, PhD

Sonne Vita 2023.pdf

Dr. Sonne is an Emerita Professor in the LLU Department of Psychology. Dr. Sonne was one of the founding psychologists of the department (in 1994) and served as the Ph.D. program Director of Clinical Training for several years. She left her position as Full Professor in 2005 when she developed and became the director of the doctoral clinical training program at the LLU Behavioral Medicine Center. However, she maintained an adjunct position in the Psychology Department, and continued to teach and mentor research for Ph.D. and Psy.D. grad students. Her areas of clinical and research interest and expertise include sexual abuse perpetrators and survivors, ethical/legal standard of care for mental health professionals, eating disorders, and personality disorders.

Education: 

She received her B.A. in psychology from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute (now Semel). 

Recognition: 

• Dr. Sonne has served twice on the American Psychological Association Ethics Committee and has chaired the California Psychological Association Ethics Committee. 
• She has authored and co-authored several articles, book chapters, and books. 
  • Speaking the unspoken: Breaking the silence, myths, and taboos that hurt therapists and patients. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 2023
    
  • Ethical Clinical Practice: Negotiating a Whole Lot of Gray in a Wise Way (in the APA Handbook of Psychopathology, 2018)
  • The “Vicissitudes of Love” between Therapist and Patient: A Review of the Research regarding Romantic and Sexual Feelings, Thoughts and Behaviors in Psychotherapy (Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2014)
  • PsycEssentials: A Pocket Resource for Mental Health Practitioners (APA, 2012), Sexualized Relationships (in the APA Handbook of Ethics and Psychology, 2012)
  • What Therapists Don’t Talk About and Why: Understanding the Taboos That Hurt Us and Our Clients (APA, 2006)
  • Sexual Feelings in Psychotherapy: Explorations for Therapists and Therapists-in-Training (APA, 1993).