Author Archives: Patricia O'Gorman, PhD

About Patricia O'Gorman, PhD

Patricia A. O'Gorman, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice. She is noted for her work on women, trauma, and substance abuse and for her warm, inspiring, and amusing presentations that make complex issues accessible and even fun. She has served as a consultant to organizations across the country in preventative and clinical strategic planning. Dr. O'Gorman is a cofounder of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, and she has held positions ranging from director of a rape crisis center to clinical director of a child welfare agency, and director of the division of prevention for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). She is a veteran of numerous television appearances, including Good Morning America, Today, and AM Sunday and is the author of eight books including: The Girly Thoughts 10 Day Detox Plan (2014), The Resilient Woman: Mastering the 7 Steps to Personal Power (2013), and Healing Trauma Through Self-Parenting (2012) 12 Steps to Self-Parenting.

Using Your Resilience When the Holidays Threaten to Be Not So Happy

December 6th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Relationships - (Comments Off on Using Your Resilience When the Holidays Threaten to Be Not So Happy)

It’s the holidays . . . so be happy Isn’t that what all the songs, the stories, the TV specials tell us? Happy is even the first or second sentiment of all of the messages we receive on everything from our postage stamps to the music in elevators: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Eid Greetings, Happy …
Read more

When Your Girly Thoughts Hit You in the Face

December 3rd, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Women's Issues - (Comments Off on When Your Girly Thoughts Hit You in the Face)

I recently gave a luncheon talk to almost 300 business leaders. I was excited. But as many talks are, it was arranged months in advance, and a personal medical concern arose that resulted in some minor surgery and a bandage on my face just in time for this major event. Now I could have entered …
Read more

I know these might seem like strange words coming from a psychologist, but stop a moment and try this on: When you back someone you love into a corner by blaming him for feeling bad about yourself, and he tells you you’re nuts, it’s hurtful—to him and to you. But consider that you may be …
Read more

Digital Dreams and Your Girlie Thoughts

November 5th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Digital Dreams and Your Girlie Thoughts)

In case you think you are not really affected by the media, watch this short video. It shows a perfectly lovely young woman who is digitally altered—and I’m not speaking about the changes we all enjoy, like adding makeup and doing our hair. This is on a whole different level. Here is a short, brilliant …
Read more

Who’s Your Model for Resilience?

June 27th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Uncategorized - (1 Comments)

  I was a recent speaker at a “Theology on Tap” lecture. This speaker series takes place in the fun, relaxed setting of a local pub, and my topic, of course, was my latest book, The Resilient Woman. All was going well when I was asked, “Who are your models for resilience?” I had an …
Read more

You Are More Beautiful Than You Think You Are

May 15th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on You Are More Beautiful Than You Think You Are)

Yes, you are more beautiful than you think you are! How can I make such a stunning statement without meeting you in person? Because you, like many women, have been brainwashed by something beyond your control, a force so strong yet so insidious that you probably aren’t even aware of it. Yet this powerful force …
Read more

Our Mother, on Mother’s Day: Honoring Our First Model for Our Resilience

May 10th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Our Mother, on Mother’s Day: Honoring Our First Model for Our Resilience)

We all come to the celebration of Mother’s Day with a long history of being a daughter, profoundly influenced for better, or worst, by our mothers.  For some, the notion of honoring our mother on Mother’s Day brings about a mix of emotions. Into this emotionally charged day full of obligations, memories, some sweet, others …
Read more

One Billion Rising..By Dancing?

March 12th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Addiction | Uncategorized - (Comments Off on One Billion Rising..By Dancing?)

One billion? and we’re not talking about the Sequestration, which is planning to cut one trillion anyway, or the population of the US that is only about 315 million.  No, we are speaking about a global effort involving more than three times the population of the US — we are speaking about women uniting around …
Read more

A HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ME –Fighting Those Girly Thoughts

February 14th, 2013 | Posted by Patricia O'Gorman, PhD in Uncategorized - (2 Comments)

If ever there was a day designed to potentially dig into our insecurities as women, it is Valentine’s Day.  Here is the day that we are told, reassured, that we are worthy, by having another’s love of us acknowledged.  Some of use will even hold our breath until that love is demonstrated by a token …
Read more