Meet Patricia Coughlin | Dr Patricia Coughlin is a Clinical Psychologist, writer, speaker and abstract artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patricia Coughlin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patricia, how do you think about risk?
The willingness to take risks and challenge myself has been one of the keys to my success. Whenever an opportunity arose- to speak at a conference or write a book or travel to a far off land (Australia was the first invitation after the publication of my first book), I took it. My focus is on what I can contribute and how I can grow, not what I am afraid of or might interfere. As a result, my career has evolved in ways I never could have dreamed.

During Covid we had many challenges. Seminars and conferences that had been planned had to go virtual. I had been very opposed to using technology and teaching online prior to the pandemic, but once forced to do so, adapted and am now able to reach people in places like Iran, who have been prohibited from leaving their county and were unable to continue their learning and professional development. It has been most gratifying.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Clinical Psychologist. I treat patients, write for the profession and teach and train mental health professionals around the world. I never imagined that I would be writing books and lecturing around the world. Nor have I ever done any marketing, yet my books continue to sell, I have a two year waiting list for therapy and training and get booked years ahead for speaking engagements. Why? Because I am passionate about the work I do and the very real possibility of cure. Most therapists help their patients cope with their symptoms. I want patients to be symptom free. It is possible to get to the disturbance causing the symptoms so that emotional conflicts can be resolved and patients are free to channel their energy into creativity instead of conflict. My passion, as well as deep domaine specific knowledge set me apart. I really want people to know that, in most cases, they don’t need to be on medication and/or in therapy for ever. We have an innate emotional immune system that makes healing possible. When we suppress the feelings and deny the realities we find upsetting, we create suffering. By allowing ourself to face what has happened, as well as all of our complex, mixed feelings about it, we can heal and be free. Search out a therapist show sees you as a person, not a problem, and who is determined to help you recover fully. It is possible!

I read widely and voraciously, from novels and poetry to quantum physics. I am a painter as well as a Psychologist and find much richness in the kind of cross fertilization that happens when exploring other fields. Being a curious, life long learner, always growing and honing my craft – never viewing myself as a finished product – has also been essential to my success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am new to Colorado Springs, so we would explore together. Places I know I would share would start with the Garden of the Gods and the Cheyenne Mountains, for hiking. The Fine Arts Center is an excellent small art museum where we would surely visit. We would take in a play or two at the ENT theater for the arts and the Fine Arts Center.

I love to cook and would prepare most of our meals, but trips to Nightingale for bread, for their outstaying break, White Pie for pizza and Ephemera for fine dining would be on the list. Checking out the galleries on First Friday and taking day trips to Mueller State Park, Buena Vista, the Royal Gorge and Selina would also be on the agenda. A game of pickle ball would also be fun. If the weather was good, we could play at Monument Valley Park. Otherwise, the largest indoor club in Colorado is right here, at Springs Pickelball. Finally, we would go listen to some local music at Poor Richards downtown.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents are ultimately responsible for my willingness to take risks and always do my best. My parents never focused on outcome – only on effort. In fact, in my day, we got two grades on our report card for each subject. One was a letter grade, like A or C and the other was an effort grade, from 1-5. My mother was most concerned about the later. She would prefer that I get a C with maximum effort than a B with half an effort. Little did she know that the research would come to support this approach. When children are praised regardless of effort – and only for outcome (“You are so smart”, “You are such a good artist”), parents unwittingly undermine intrinsic motivation and create reliance on external validation.

In addition to my parents, I was blessed with outstanding professors and mentor, starting with my undergraduate advisor, Dr Hal Aries (who coined the term “Sunk loss fallacy”). Dr. Habib Davnaloo and Dr. David Malan have been a source of inspiration and models of excellence in my field.

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