Dr. Alan Downs is a clinical psychologist and bestselling author of seven books, including the internationally acclaimed The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man’s World. His work has been translated into over 27 languages and is recognized worldwide. He is a highly sought-after speaker, workshop leader, and frequent media commentator on the psychology of gay men, with over 25 years of experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Downs currently consults with individuals and couples globally through virtual sessions. He is also an intensively trained Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) practitioner, known for helping clients and fellow therapists develop mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance skills within the DBT framework. He has been featured in Vogue, The Guardian, and The New York Times, and has appeared on major television programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, and CBS Sunday Morning. His insights have been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR’s Morning Edition, Fortune, Newsweek, Out Magazine, The Advocate, and The Village Voice. Dr. Downs was invited by the Clinton Administration to speak at the Senate Democratic Caucus. His professional background also includes leadership roles as CEO of Michael’s House Treatment Center, executive at Hewlett-Packard, and adjunct faculty appointments at the University of San Francisco, San Francisco State, and The New School for Social Research.