Dr. Steven C. Hayes stands as a preeminent figure in clinical psychology and behavioral science, renowned for his transformative theoretical frameworks that have reshaped modern psychotherapy. He currently holds the distinguished position of Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he served as Nevada Foundation Professor before retiring from teaching in July 2023, following an illustrious 37-year tenure at the institution. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in psychology, he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from West Virginia University before completing his clinical internship under David Barlow at the Brown University School of Medicine. His early career included faculty positions at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he laid the groundwork for his revolutionary contributions to contextual behavioral science.
Dr. Hayes pioneered Relational Frame Theory, a comprehensive account of human higher cognition that has been empirically tested in approximately 300 studies, fundamentally altering our understanding of language and cognition in behavioral terms. As the co-developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, an evidence-based psychotherapy approach that integrates mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based methods, his work has generated one of the most extensively researched and clinically implemented therapeutic modalities of the past three decades. His scholarly output is extraordinary, comprising 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles that have established him as one of only three behavior analysts worldwide with a Google Scholar h-index above 100, reflecting his profound influence across psychology and behavioral science. The Psychological Flexibility Model, which he developed, has provided the theoretical foundation for understanding human suffering and prosperity, catalyzing a paradigm shift from traditional symptom-focused approaches to process-oriented psychological interventions.
Beyond his theoretical contributions, Dr. Hayes has profoundly shaped the global landscape of contextual behavioral science through his leadership as President of the Institute for Better Health, a 45-year-old charitable organization dedicated to advancing mental and behavioral health excellence. He has mentored an impressive 57 doctoral students throughout his career, including 49 at the University of Nevada, Reno, cultivating the next generation of researchers and practitioners who continue to advance his innovative approaches worldwide. His collaborative work with scholars like Stefan Hofmann and David Sloan Wilson in developing Process-Based Therapy represents a cutting-edge evolution of evidence-based treatments that integrates insights from evolutionary theory and complex network analysis. Even in retirement from teaching, Dr. Hayes remains actively engaged in extending multidimensional evolutionary thinking to diverse human problems, ensuring his legacy of innovation continues to influence psychological science and practice for generations to come.
