Susan Heitler, Ph.D.

Website : http://www.TherapyHelp.com/
Residence : Denver, CO

Biographical information

Clinical psychologist Susan Heitler, a Harvard graduate with a doctorate in psychology from NYU, is a prolific author, stimulating speaker, and sought-after therapist from Denver who enjoys a stellar international reputation for her books and lectures.

Dr. Heitler's books--From Conflict to Resolution for therapists, The Power of Two and The Power of Two Workbook for couples, and for children, David Decides About Thumbsucking--each have become classics in their fields. Her writing has had a global reach with translations of The Power of Two published in Turkey, Israel, Brazil, Taiwan, and, soon to be released, in mainland China.

Dr. Heitler has lectured nationwide and abroad, including in Spain, Italy, Austria, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Israel, China, and Australia.

A leading Denver activist on behalf of Israel, Dr. Heitler was a founding member of ActionIsrael (see www.ActionIsrael.org). She initiated the Israel Fairs program, which has enabled many Israeli merchants to survive the recent years of lowered tourism by selling products in the US. Dr. Heitler also offers sports psychology expertise to Israel's top tennis professionals, helping Israel to shine in international tennis rankings.

Dr. Heitler and her husband have been married over 30 years, enjoying four children, their spouses, and ever-expanding numbers of grandchildren. Their eldest daughter, Abigail Hirsch, recently co-authored with Dr. Heitler a workbook to help couples attain shalom bayit, a peaceful household: The Power of Two Workbook: Communication Skills for a Strong and Loving Marriage.

Discussion topics

• Secrets to Shalom Bayit--Peace in the home is a cornerstone of Jewish life, but as a practical matter it's not always so easy to maintain. How do harmonious couples do it? Learn the mistakes that most often trigger fights, and the skills that consistently yield cooperation.
• Terrorism: A Global Version of Domestic Violence--Terrorism can seem incomprehensible. Why would young men and women choose to blow themselves up in order to kill innocent Israeli families? To understand the mentality of terrorism, the contemporary plague that Daniel Pipes calls World War IV, Dr. Heitler turns to the psychology of domestic violence. Planners of suicide bombings and men who brutalize spouses and children in their own homes turn out to think and act with remarkable similarity. The good news is that we know some about how to combat domestic violence. Will similar methods work to end terrorism, in Israel and around the world?
• Tennis From Israel, With Love: Israel's New Sports Heros, and What They Can Teach Us about Teamwork-- Wimbledon 2003 sent a surge of positive energy to Israel. All over the country Israelis were glued to their TV sets. A hitherto virtually unknown duo of tennis players from Israel was beating the top tennis players in the world. Earning their way into Wimbledon by first winning a prior qualifying tournament, Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich thrilled their country by making it all the way to the semi finals of this exciting Grand Slam event. The Ram/Erlich Wimbledon tennis ascent since has been followed up by multiple repeated victories. The doubles duo has been winning tournaments from Istanbul to Bangkok and Binghamton to Lyons. One factor in their world-class success story-these two know how to do partnership. Dr. Heitler, an American psychologist who works with the Israeli tennis coach who has been producing Israel's new crop of world class players, shares what Andy and Yoni understand about the psychology of playing together. These lessons apply to every partnership-at home, in business, and beyond.
• Shrink Talk about Israel: Psychological Perspective on Israel and Its Neighbors-- Israel in the Middle East is like a small-sized child who gets bullied on a playground. Until the world's authorities stand up for her and protect her, the bullying is likely to continue. As the victim of on-going verbal and physical abuse by others in her environment, what are Israel's options? This talk looks at the psychological literature about children and adults who are victims of abuse and learns from what helps them.
• Terrorists: Batterers on a Big Scale--What can we learn from the psychology of domestic violence to better understand and deal with terrorists? Terrorism and hate menatlities also can be seen as analogous to cancer. How can our understandings of various treatment approaches to cancer inform how we deal with cancers of hatred?
• What You Need to Know to Be Ready for Marriage--You can't get a driver's license without learning the manual and taking a test, yet no one prepares Jewish singles, or engaged couples, for the far bigger life challenge of marriage. This talk details the skills that can enable marriage livfe to run smoothly, in the tradition of shalom bayit (peace in the household).

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