Video
Jennice Vilhauer on Dr. Phil: The Psychology of Disclosure
July 30, 2026
Clinical psychologist Jennice Vilhauer discusses how public communication, stigma, and mental health preparedness could shape the response to future UAP disclosure.
Jennice Vilhauer, PhD
Advisory Board Member
Clinical psychologist Jennice Vilhauer, PhD, joined Dr. Phil to discuss how institutions can prepare for the psychological effects of future UAP disclosure. Their conversation focused on public communication, stigma, mental health capacity, and the distinction between acknowledging unexplained phenomena and making claims about their origin.
Vilhauer explained that people respond to how they interpret information, not simply to the information itself. When officials release records without context, the public is left to fill in the gaps. She argued that honest communication should make clear what is known, what remains uncertain, and what cannot yet be determined.
Much of the interview examined the stigma surrounding UAP reports and research. Pilots and other witnesses may choose not to report what they observed because they fear professional or personal consequences. Academics may avoid the subject for similar reasons. Vilhauer said this limits the available data and leaves institutions less prepared to understand how people may respond as more information becomes public.
The central concern, she said, is not widespread panic but pressure on systems that are already stretched thin. Even a small share of the population seeking help at the same time could strain mental health services. Most clinicians have received no training for conversations involving UAP experiences or the possibility of non-human intelligence.
Vilhauer called for psychologists to be included in federal UAP policy and review processes, along with action from professional associations, research funders, and emergency management organizations. Her work with the Disclosure Foundation includes two related publications. The research report The Psychological Impact of UAP/NHI Disclosure examines the potential psychological effects of disclosure. Policy Brief No. 6, A National Preparedness Framework for the Human Consequences of Disclosure, sets out recommendations for government preparation.