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

Research Matters Podcast

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 • How clinicians and researchers can work together effectively without burnout • Why studies that are “clinically syntonic” are more sustainable and valuable • What makes Louis Dr. Castonguay run—not walk—to a meeting • How to navigate power dynamics and avoid “empirical invasions” • Why flexible participation and shared ownership are key in PRNs • How humility, curiosity, and a love of process shape good science

Tips from the episode:

Tip 1: On sustaining clinician involvement in research: • Design studies that serve both scientific and clinical purposes • Let clinicians co-create the research questions and methods • Be transparent about power and open to hearing doubts • Participation should be flexible, not all-or-nothing

Tip 2: On what makes a successful PRN: • Shared goals with diverse expertise • Mutual respect between all team members • Freedom for each member to contribute in the way that fits them • A culture where research and practice grow each other

Tip 3: On Louis’s personal approach: • Counterphobic drive means he runs toward hard problems • Collaboration isn’t a tactic—it’s a value • Being a generalist helps bridge gaps between orientations and settings • Excellence and perfectionism can be double-edged—learn to aim “imperfectly right”

Links from this Episode:

Fostering collaboration between researchers and clinicians through building practice-oriented research: An introduction

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