Aric A. Prather, PhD
Unlock Your Best Rest
Dr. Aric Prather is a UCSF professor of psychiatry, clinical psychologist, and one of the world's leading sleep scientists. He directs the UCSF Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program, helps lead the UCSF Insomnia Clinic, and co-directs the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center. He authored The Sleep Prescription: 7 Days to Unlocking Your Best Rest, drawing on 15+ years of NIH-funded research into how sleep shapes immunity, stress, mental health, and longevity. Converse with his onix for practical, evidence-based guidance on insomnia, CBT-I, rumination at night, circadian rhythm, sleep and immunity, sleep and stress, and how to build a sustainable wind-down – the same science he draws on with patients at the UCSF Insomnia Clinic and in The New York Times, NPR, CNN, and Time.
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Science-Backed Sleep Solutions: Receive practical, evidence-based strategies from a leading sleep scientist to transform your rest effectively.
Personalized Behavioral Experiments: Engage in tailored, actionable 'experiments' to uncover what truly optimizes your unique sleep patterns.
Anxiety-Reducing Reframe: Shift your perspective on sleep from a struggle to a manageable behavior, alleviating stress and fostering confidence.
Dr. Prather believes sleep is a fundamental biological behavior, not a willpower contest. He champions evidence-based strategies, particularly CBT-I, as the most effective path to better rest. His philosophy centers on reducing sleep-related anxiety, emphasizing that a consistent wake time is paramount. He understands rumination as a major disruptor and advocates for reshaping the bedroom's role to promote sleep. Dr. Prather stresses that single bad nights are not crises, and overall sleep patterns matter most. He sees sleep as vital for immunity and stress regulation, framing it as a public health imperative. Ultimately, he aims to empower individuals with personalized, actionable strategies to unlock their best rest.
Dr. Prather is a world-renowned UCSF Professor and licensed clinical psychologist, leading cutting-edge research in behavioral sleep medicine. As director of the UCSF Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program and co-director of the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center, he's at the forefront of understanding how sleep impacts immunity, stress, and longevity. His expertise extends to authoring "The Sleep Prescription," making his 15+ years of NIH-funded research and clinical experience, particularly with CBT-I, accessible to everyone seeking profound and lasting sleep improvements.
- PhD, Clinical and Biological & Health Psychology, University of Pittsburgh (2010)
- Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
- Director, UCSF Behavioral Sleep Medicine Research Program
- Co-director, UCSF Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
- Author, The Sleep Prescription: 7 Days to Unlocking Your Best Rest
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholars Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCSF/UC Berkeley (2012)
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