About Dr. Tedder
Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Forensic Expert. Navy Veteran.
Background
Dr. Zackery A. Tedder is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and forensic expert with over 14 years of experience in psychological assessment, neuropsychological testing, and therapeutic intervention. First licensed at the master's level in 2012, he has worked extensively across clinical, forensic, and neuropsychological settings, specializing in complex cases that require sharp insight, direct communication, and evidence-based analysis.
His career spans correctional facilities, adolescent treatment centers, community mental health settings, and private practice. He served as Chief Clinical Officer at Foundation Stone Family of Programs, directing clinical operations across a network of behavioral health programs. Prior to that, he served as Clinical Director of the Travis County SMART Program, a 116-bed residential facility serving court-ordered residents, where he supervised a multidisciplinary team of 16 counseling staff. He has conducted CPS evaluations and provided expert testimony in criminal, child welfare, and juvenile court proceedings.
Dr. Tedder served as a lecturer in forensic psychology at Texas State University, where he brought the subject to life through practical application and real-world case analysis. Teaching deepened his ability to translate complex psychological concepts into clear, actionable language, a skill that carries directly into his forensic reports and expert testimony.
Clinical Orientation
Dr. Tedder takes a direct, reality-based approach to both therapy and assessment, rooted in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) and structured clinical reasoning. His style is pointed, collaborative, and oriented toward practical outcomes. In therapeutic work, this means confronting avoidance, building emotional self-regulation, and helping clients develop genuine insight rather than comfortable narratives.
In forensic work, it means producing evaluations that are transparent in their reasoning, grounded in empirical methods, and written to withstand adversarial scrutiny. Whether the context is a courtroom or a clinical office, the approach is consistent: identify the problem clearly, apply the right tools, and communicate findings without ambiguity.
Media & Public Work
Dr. Tedder's expertise has been featured in CBS News Austin, Fox 7 News Austin, A&E's Intervention (Season 25, Episode 15), and an untitled veteran treatment documentary. A Navy veteran and former Texas House candidate (District 48), he brings a structured, analytical perspective to public discourse on mental health, forensic psychology, and behavioral science.
He has a particular interest in men's mental health, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and addressing the cultural barriers to help-seeking in Hispanic, Latin, and South Asian communities.