Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Campbell

Hi Susan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

After I got my Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1967, I set about discovering how I could use my skills in understanding human behavior and how human systems work to create a better world. The world I saw had so much potential for being more fair, just, creative, happy, safe, and beneficial for all humans (rather than the few who are lucky enough to be born smart and rich). I turned my attention to the US education system, working as a consultant in public schools. I determined that what our educational system teaches does not really educate people in how to get along with others, how to deal with conflict and change, how to manage their emotions, how to be curious and enjoy learning, how to develop yourself into a person who knows how to cooperate, and how to develop systems (like communities and companies) that honor and protect the sanctity of life, the planet, and all beings. In my late 20’s, I wrote my first book about all this titled, Expanding Your Teaching Potential: Education for Participation in a Changing World.

During this time I also had a private psychotherapy practice, where I began to specialize in couple and family relationships. Plus, I founded the couple and family therapy graduate program at the University of Massachusetts Graduate School of Education. So, “relationships” became a major focus of my work. Out of that I decided to do research on how couple relationships change over time from the initial Romance Stage to the more mature and complex Co-Creative Stage. Based on interviews and surveys with over 100 couples, I published the book, The Couples Journey: Intimacy as a Path to Wholeness, which fairly quickly sold over 100,000 copies.

Both of the above-mentioned books are out of print now but are available as Kindle e-books or at www.susancampbell.com

As I have continued to teach, write, and see clients over the past 55 years, I have written a total of 12 books on relationships, systems change, and conflict. My most recent book, From Triggered to Tranquil, teaches readers how to catch and calm trigger reactions and use upsets as a doorway to deeper intimacy and personal healing.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It has been a smooth road for me. Even in the early 1960’s’ when there were few women in leadership positions, I was hired for very influential jobs–partly because I was a powerful woman–not in spite of this. I was always at the right place at the right time. Or maybe I have just been willing to take professional risks that many women fear to take. I have done a lot of mentoring for women to help them feel more empowered to take the kind of risks that I did and to really take on the challenge of lifelong self-development. You don’t grow unless to try new things and take chances. And you have to be willing to accept failure sometimes. I aim to help the people I work with to be compassionate with themselves when they experience disappointments and failures.

We’ve been impressed with education, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I have developed a body of work called “Getting Real” or “The Getting Real Work.” My trained coaches and I offer workshops in person and online to help people learn “The 10 truth skills you need to live an authentic life.” All my books and You Tube videos have the theme of helping readers develop themselves–to develop what I see as “the new human capacities” needed to survive and thrive in a world of exponential change and increasing diversity.

What makes you happy?

Teaching is a joy for me; also working with clients. I do also like writing books, but I wish that didn’t require so much sitting at a desk. I have never been good at writing at a standing desk or using a dictation program.

I am a basically happy person–so for me, I am simply happy to be alive.

Pricing:

• I charge $200 per hour for working with individuals and couples.
• My seminars and corporate consulting are priced by the job.
• I also do free webinars on You Tube. My You Tube channels are drsusan95472 and drsusan9999
• To see my current offerings–including my free You Tube webinars–subscribe to my newsletter here this link: http://eepurl.com/cVmbk

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susancampbell.com
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/drsusan99
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/drsusan95472/videos

Image Credits

headshot by Star DeWar