Build the Life You Want
with Science-Backed Personality Change
Shift the personality patterns that keep you stuck and develop traits that support a more aligned, fulfilled life
The first step is understanding your starting point with a test trusted by psychologists & personality scientists.
Build the Life You Want with Science-Backed Personality Change
The Compass Method: ClarifyCultivateConsolidate
A clinically-proven framework to move your from insight to action
1. Clarify: Get clear on your starting point (your current personality patterns) and your destination (your values and goals).
2. Cultivate: Practice small, evidence-based shifts in thinking and behavior that build momentum as you experiment with new ways of showing up.
3. Consolidate: Apply new skills at work, in relationships, and in how you respond to stress and setbacks — without constant effort or self-monitoring.
THE RESULT: Personality traits that consistently support the life you want to build
Choose your starting point:
Personality Compass Assessment
Personality Compass Roadmap
The Personality Edit
Looking for more personalized support?
Personality Compass Coaching is a high-touch, individualized experience for people who want to work closely with me, a global leader in personality change research and intervention, to intentionally shift personality traits that are shaping their work, relationships, and well-being.
Meet Shannon
I’m a licensed clinical psychologist, treatment developer, and personality scientist who studies how personality traits shape our lives — and how they can be intentionally changed.
I run a clinical trials lab at the University of Kentucky, where my work has resulted in over 140 peer-reviewed publications and multiple books on evidence-based treatment. I’m also the co-developer of the Unified Protocol and the creator of BPD Compass, approaches taught and used by clinicians around the world.
My work has been featured in major media, most recently CBS Sunday Morning and Vox’s Explain it to Me. I’ve also been featured in the Washington Post, WebMD, NPR, and Psychology Today – to name a few.
What distinguishes my work is its focus on intentional, science-backed personality change — not labels, quick fixes, or motivational hype. I help people apply the same research-tested strategies I teach professionals globally, in ways that are practical, personalized, and sustainable.
Schedule a Clarity Call with Shannon
What We Do
for Meeting Planners and Event Organizers
Keynotes & Workshops
Helping people break out of their personality type boxes & intentionally cultivate traits that will bring them closer to their values/goals
for Individuals Seeking One-on-One Support
Work with Dr. Sauer-Zavala
Personality Coaching & Psychological Treatment
- Coaching to get unstuck & reach your full potential
- Personality Assessment
- Science-based treatment for anxiety, depression, & BPD
for Mental Health Providers & Organizations
Expert Training in COMPASS
Personality-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Consultation
- Workshops
- Certifications
- Implementation
for Meeting Planners and Event Organizers
Keynotes & Workshops
Helping people break out of their personality type boxes & intentionally cultivate traits that will bring them closer to their values/goals
for Individuals Seeking One-on-One Support
Work with Dr. Sauer-Zavala
Personality Coaching & Psychological Treatment
- Coaching to get unstuck & reach your full potential
- Personality Assessment
- Science-based treatment for anxiety, depression, & BPD
for Mental Health Providers & Organizations
Expert Training in COMPASS
Personality-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Consultation
- Workshops
- Certifications
- Implementation
Start a Free,
Science-backed
Personality Test
Most personality tests you'll find online are not backed by science. This test, the Personality Compass Assessment, C is based on a decades of research and will provide you with a personalized report.
Begin with the free Personality Compass Assessment to understand how patterns help or hinder you as you move toward your goals. Then decide if there are traits you want to nudge.
Looking for Therapy?
Some patterns are best addressed with therapy — especially when distress is persistent, symptoms are causing impairment in work and relationships, or emotions feel hard to regulate.
I offer evidence-based therapy informed by personality science, including approaches like BPD Compass and the Unified Protocol, which target the underlying traits that drive anxiety, mood difficulties, and interpersonal challenges.
Therapy is currently offered via waitlist for clients in PSYPACT-participating states.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Anxiety, Depression, & Related Disorders
Navigating Emerging Adulthood
Clinician Training
Workshops
Certification Programs
Program Implementation
Keynotes & Workshops
Watch my TEDx: The Power of Personality Change
The Personality Compass Report
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