Pump Up Your Book Chats with Dr. Jennifer Freed

Rob Babek For more than 25 years, Jennifer Freed, Ph.D., has been a licensed marriage and family counselor, group psychotherapist and educator.  She was the Clinical Director at PACIFICA GRADUATE INSTITUTE, one of the country’s leading centers for depth psychology, where she continues to serve as a professor and workshop leader.
Dr. Freed is a recognized expert on behavioral matters such as teen bullying, character development, marriage and family relationships, and diversity issues.  She has provided thousands with the practical tools to compassionately reassess personal behaviors and make significant life changes.

National media appearances include GOOD MORNING AMERICA, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, ABC NEWS, FOX NEWS, SIRRIUS RADIO, AIR AMERICA, USA TODAY, DISNEY.COM, LIFESCRIPT.COM, and others.  Jennifer Freed currently hosts the popular radio program FREED UP! on Voice America.

Jennifer Freed is the co-founder/director of the highly successful teen program called THE ACADEMY OF HEALING ARTS (AHA!), which serves more than 1000 families annually in the state of California. AHA! is dedicated to the development of character, imagination, emotional intelligence, and social conscience in teenagers , while helping them set goals, support their peers, and serve their community. For The Academy of Healing Arts, Dr. Freed created the educational book series “BECOME YOUR BEST SELF”, which includes workbooks on Relationship Wisdom, Character, Compassion and Creative Expression, targeted to teens and young adults.

In addition to the workbook series, Dr. Freed has published THE ULTIMATE PERSONALITY GUIDE, a popular interactive guidebook for understanding personality typologies. Her latest book published by Penguin, LESSONS FROM STANLEY THE CAT: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom, inspired by a beloved feline friend, has received rave reviews. To learn more about Stanley, please visit stanleythecat.com.

Dr. Freed is the recipient of the 2009 Santa Barbara’s Local Heroes Award and THE HOPE AWARD from Sierra Tucson Treatment Center, in recognition of her innovative curriculum for high school teenagers, which led to a 75% reduction in school suspensions. The Academy of Healing Arts was just awarded YOUTH PROGRAM OF THE YEAR by the City of Santa Barbara in 2010 and AHA! is also the recipient of the 2010 Southern California Teen Coalition Teenie Award in the category of Be the Change Award – this category recognizes youth/teen groups/organizations that are working to help teens make a difference in the world or in their community by projects, activities or personal changes that actually make tangible differences. The membership of the SCTC is about 500 strong with about 70 or more agencies represented.

She also was the founder of the statewide program called THE MEDIA PROJECT which worked with teens to produce media products for the prevention of drugs and violent offenses.

Additionally, Jennifer is a renowned psychological astrologer with thousands of clients all over the country and the world. She is the director of Astrological Counseling Seminars which has provided classes to over a thousand students. She has also maintained a clinical practice in Santa Barbara serving individuals, couples, and families for 26 years.

You can visit her website at www.jenniferfreed.com.

Lessons from Stanley the Cat

On Lessons from Stanley the Cat

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

My cat passed and I just had to write something that honored his brilliance.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

The editing I had to do for Penguin Books.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

Life and Love are intermingled in every worthwhile pursuit, relationship, and activity.

Lessons from Stanley the Cat

On Books in General

Q:  What was one of your favorite books as a child?

Gone with the Wind by Margret Mitchell

Q: What is your favorite book as an adult?

Ahab’s Wife

Q: What are you reading now?

The Heroine’s Journey by Maureen Murdock

On Writing

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I loved writing poems even as a small child.  I have always written.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write?  Do you write for publications?

I have written for newspapers, magazines, school curriculum, and subscription clients.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Set a schedule for writing before anything else and stick to it.

On Family and Home:

Q:  Would you like to tell us about your home life?

I live in Santa Barbara California in a beautiful mountain home with my life partner and my cat.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I write upstairs at my desk looking out over the ocean and the mountains.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

I go with my honey to Big Sur California and hike.

On Book Promotion:

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

I hired a pr team to get me launched.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

YES I love the social network opportunities and use every one I can.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

It is all about the author doing the work to get promoted.

On Book Publishing

Q: What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

The money and time it costs to write.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

Having people love my work.

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

The book stores are closing and the online business is booming.

On Other Fun Stuff:

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

To have world peace and I mean it.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

I would be right where I am and I would have a teleport machine that could put me in NYC or Hawaii in a nanosecond.

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer.  Who would you thank?

I would thank my partner for a lifetime of patience and inspiration.

This is me at five years old winning a dog handler prize.

Jennifer Freed 2


One Response to “Pump Up Your Book Chats with Dr. Jennifer Freed”

  1. Nice interview.

    I am reviewing this book later in the tour. I’m eager to get to it.

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