Dr. Judith Orloff, Author & Psychiatrist Interviewed

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest

Dr. Judith Orloff.

Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, a UCLA professor with three best-selling books,Positive Energy, Second Sight and Dr. Judith Orloff’s Guide to Intuitive Healing. She is featured regularly in print, broadcast and online media.

Good day Dr. Orloff and that you for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background.Dr. Orloff:I am a psychiatrist who combines traditional medicine with the worlds of intuition, spirituality and subtle energies—in all my books I show how readers can do this too to better their lives. I feel passionately that we are more than just our analytic minds, and that we must embrace all our capacities to be energized and whole. I have a private practice, and give workshops on the power of intuition and positive energy to heal. Norm:How did you become interested in the power of intuition and the positive energy to heal, and what do they mean? How has your life changed since discovering these powers?Dr. Orloff:

As I wrote in my memoir “Second Sight” I’ve had very strong intuitions since I was a child. My parents, both physicians (I have 25 physicians in my family!) forbade me to talk about my intuitions at home because they were all negative—deaths, illnesses, earthquakes. As a child I grew up believing there was something wrong with me to be so sensitive. I’d walk into shopping malls and crowded places feeling fine and walk our exhausted or with some ache or pain I didn’t have before. I didn’t realize I was an intuitive empath (which I discuss in detail in Positive Energy). This is someone who absorbs other people’s stress like a sponge and gets exhausted because of this. As I’ve put into practice the principles I outline in “Positive Energy” I no longer am a gigantic sponge for the world’s stress. I can stay intuitively open and still protect myself from negativity. This is an amazing gift and a huge positive change in how I navigate life. I have embraced my intuition and keep growing as a result of being whole in this way. Norm:Why did you feel compelled to write your books and why do you think they are important books at this time?Dr. Orloff:I’d like to focus on my latest book “Positive Energy”. I wrote it because there is an epidemic of exhaustion in the world. People are burned out, tired, always recovering from their lives and sapped dry by energy vampires. I wanted to write this book to give readers solutions to low energy and offer strategies from traditional medicine and beyond to recapture energy and nurture themselves in the deepest ways. We live in such stressful times—it is so important all people—especially the really sensitive ones—learn how to protect their energy so they’re not demolished. “Positive Energy” is for all those people who’ve been labeled as “overly sensitive” and tend to get overwhelmed by people and the world. I offer techniques that will change all that.Norm:What do you hope readers will come away with after reading your books?Dr. Orloff:

I want readers to be able to trust their intuition and follow it’s advice. Only good things will happen if they do. Listening to intuition will give readers a clear picture of who are positive energy people versus negative energy people so they can make better choices in relationships and career choices. I want readers to be able to trust the wisdom within and grow confident and strong.Norm:As a follow up, how would you respond to potential readers who might be skeptical about the subject matters of your book such as energy vampires?Dr. Orloff:

I would ask skeptical readers to see if anyone in their lives drain their energy. The different energy vampires I talk about in “Positive Energy” include the chronic complainer, the drama queen, the constant talker, the blamer or criticizer. Notice what happens to your energy when you’re around them. If you feel like taking a nap or feel sick, then you’ve encountered an energy vampire. It is a very common occurrence that zaps peoples’ energy.Norm:Can you explain some of your research techniques, and how you found sources for your books?

Dr. Orloff:

In “Positive Energy” I interviewed various creative people about how they keep their energy high—Quincy Jones, Rosa Parks, Larry King, Jamie Lee Curtis. We can learn so much from these creative, busy people about techniques to build our own energy. I use intuition with patients for 20 years. I share my experiences with patients and how intuition and positive energy has helped them grow. Norm:Have you had any downfalls or negative experiences working with a publisher/agent, such as rejection letters? If so, how did you handle it?Dr. Orloff:

Before I had my first book, “Second Sight” published I wrote a book proposal that got rejected all over. It hurt. I swore I’d never write again. But the problem was I wrote that proposal from a very clinical voice that was unrelatable. Instead I had to find my own very personal, emotional voice for my books—and then my first and subsequent books got sold. Norm:How have you used the Internet to boost your career?Dr. Orloff:

Yes, I’ve written many articles on the internet including CNN.com, I village, Beliefnet.com and others. The internet is an amazing way to disseminate information. I love it.Norm:What is next for Dr. Judith Orloff?

I have just returned home from a 2 month book tour for “Positive Energy”. It was amazing in so many ways, but I will be very happy to never get on another airplane again. I am going to rest, walk on the beach, listen to a lot of music, read poetry and creatively rev myself up for my next book project.Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Dr. Orloff:

I hope my books can help readers honor their energy and intuition. These are both very precious. Life is short. We need to make the most of it. Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.