John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.

John Sommers-Flanagan is a clinical psychologist and professor of counselor education at the University of Montana and author or coauthor of over 60 professional publications, nine books, and numerous video trainings with Psychotherapy.net and Alexander Street Press. Some of his books, co-written with his wife Rita, include Tough Kids, Cool Counseling, (2nd ed., American Counseling Association, 2007), How to Listen so Parents will Talk and Talk so Parents will Listen (John Wiley & Sons, 2011), Clinical Interviewing (6th ed., Wiley, 2017), and Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice (3rd ed., Wiley, 2018). John is a sought out keynote speaker and professional workshop trainer in the areas of (a) counseling youth, (b) working with parents, and (c) suicide assessment. He has published many newspaper columns, Op-Ed pieces, and a recent article in Slate Magazine. His work has been intermittently featured in Counseling Today, the ASCA School Counselor magazines. John’s resource and opinion blog at johnsommersflanagan.com receives approximately 12,000 hits per month. He is also co-host of the national Practically Perfect Parenting Podcast.