Meet Dr. West
Dr. Aprilia West is a psychologist, executive coach, researcher, trainer, author, and professional fellow at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School. She brings 20+ years’ experience working with founders, leaders, artists/creatives, teams, and organizations across Big Five tech companies, the U.S. Congress, and the Big Six entertainment companies, as well as prosocial policy-driven “nudge” and behavior-change campaigns.
Dr. West specializes in translating and disseminating research into evidence-based applications for wellbeing and performance. She has delivered invited workshops for professionals in 7 countries worldwide on wellbeing, decision-making, psychological agility, emotional efficacy, and sustainable behavior change.
She has authored several books and peer-reviewed articles, and collaborated on seminal prosocial projects, including communication campaigns and behavioral design initiatives that promote wellbeing and civil society.
Prior to training as a psychologist, Dr. West served as a policy analyst, communications director, speechwriter, and press secretary on Capitol Hill She is credentialed as an ICF-coach and a Rule-31 certified mediator with training from Harvard Law School’s negotiation and conflict resolution program and was a founding president of the Southern California chapter for the Association of Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).
Dr. West is based in Los Angeles, CA and is an avid coffee drinker, linguaphile, amateur stand-up comic and scooter rider.
Why Clients Trust Dr. West
01 Psychologist, Executive Coach & Behavioral Change Consultant
Licensed clinical psychologist, executive coach and consultant with 20+ years of experience working with leaders, teams, and organizations across the U.S. Congress, Big Five tech companies, Big Six entertainment companies, Fortune 500 organizations and prosocial nudge campaigns.
02 Bestselling Author in Wellbeing, Elite Performance & Behavior Change
Author of What You Feel Is Not All There Is, ACT for Your Best Life, and co-author of Emotion Efficacy Therapy and Positive Psychology Coaching in the Workplace. Widely respected expert in positive psychology and behavior change.
03 Researcher, Developer & Innovator
Developed and validated the Emotion Efficacy Scale 2 (EES2), and the Emotion Efficacy Therapy (EET) protocol; Developed “Flexible Selfing,” a novel integration of evidence-based therapies with method acting; Collaborates with academics in the development and testing of cutting-edge wellbeing and prosocial interventions.
04 Skilled Teacher & Trainer
Has delivered invited workshops in 7 countries across the globe, training therapists, coaches and health care providers in applying evidence-based interventions, including partnership with Harvard's Institute of Coaching, the International Coaching Federation (ICF), PESI, and Contextual Consulting.
05 Speaker & Thought Leader
Invited guest on podcasts and high-profile news shows to discuss psychology, culture and public policy; Designs bespoke motivational, educational keynotes; Outspoken advocate for abandoning outdated diagnostic models in mental health in favor of evidence-based, process-focused approaches.
06 Prosocial Designer & Advocate
Has collaborated on high-profile prosocial campaigns addressing congressional redistricting and climate change, and on a human rights campaign alongside advocates Sir Richard Branson, Peter Gabriel, and Mia Farrow; and has designed clear, actionable frameworks for members of Congress, special interest groups, and the public.