James MacDonald, PhD
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist
Licensed Psychologist PSY-34898
Dr. MacDonald’s recent research on boosting happiness to improve depression symptoms was just covered in an article in the New York Times. Read about it here.
Dr. James MacDonald is a licensed psychologist at CBT Los Angeles, specializing in evidence-based treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. He has extensive experience in evidence-based therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and trauma-focused treatments such as prolonged exposure (PE) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Dr. MacDonald also specializes in evidence-based treatment of psychological issues related to chronic health conditions (e.g., cancer and chronic pain) and concerns related to caregiving. Dr. MacDonald values strong, collaborative relationships with clients in the service of developing a shared understanding of their unique experiences. He emphasizes biological, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of mental health to tailor treatment to clients’ specific needs.
Dr. MacDonald received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Cornell University and went on to obtain his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. MacDonald has completed doctoral training practica at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center, UCLA Simms Mann Center for Integrative Oncology, and UCLA Depression Grand Challenge. He completed an APA-accredited internship at the VA Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center and an advanced postdoctoral fellowship in CBT at Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles. Dr. MacDonald has published multiple peer-reviewed articles on anxiety and depression, coping, and the use of technology to facilitate psychological intervention delivery in the context of cancer.