-
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is the originator of The Enchanted Self. She has been a positive psychologist in private practice and licensed in the states of New Jersey and Massachusetts since 1981.
Family Relationship Award of Excellence
My Books
Secrets: You Tell Me Yours and I’ll Tell You Mine…maybe!
Following on the heels of the best-selling book, The Truth, SECRETS is the continuing diary of a girl moving into her teen-age years. The Girl has plenty to fill her journal. The pages reveal a new school, a new baby in the family, new friends, a new guy and a new set of issues to face. Share the secret world of an almost-teen as she learns which secrets to share and which to keep to herself.
Download an excerpt of Secrets here.
THE TRUTH: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know Everything!
In the mothers' and daughters' version, this girl encapsulates the spark and energy that your daughter has inside of her, and that you had inside of yourself as a girl. It is this special capacity for fun and wisdom that we need to protect in our girls and get back to ourselves!
Let's rejoice in the girl inside of ourselves. Let's give courage and affirmation to our daughters and granddaughters so they know from the inside out, it is ok, in fact, essential to keep her alive, as they grow up.
The Truth, I'm 10, I'm Smart & I Know Everything.
The adult women's version is a delightful, humorous secret diary, written by a girl who is 10-11 years of age. She is wise and yet so innocent. She makes us cry and laugh and remember ourselves. Behind this very easy read is the psychological message to the women reading THE TRUTH that they can and must recapture the fire and passion of their girlhoods not only for themselves to flourish and be happy, but for the next generation to also have the gifts of good emotional and spiritual health.
This book is filled with emotional and delightful reminiscences that will charm you even as you are inspired to begin thinking of your own ways to bring delight into your hearts.
A collection of stories that is guaranteed to make you Feel Good. Click on the title to find out about the free gifts you will receive or here to learn more about the stories.
Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! is a culmination of over ten years of work and research in the field of personal enchantment by Dr. Barbara. She teaches us how to recall positive memories, regardless of our history, recognize our potential, and bring into our lives more of what gives us pleasure and joy. This is all combined with daily positive actions.
The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy
Through my work as a therapist, I have become concerned that we do not keep clearly enough how to reclaim what is positive about ourselves. This led me to write my book, The Enchanted Self, A Positive Therapy, published in 1997 by Harwood Academic Press. This book was probably the first and only book for mental health care providers and the interested public, to lay out the tools necessary to create a positive mind set and live an affirmative and affirming way of life!
Articles and Newsletters
Dr. Barbara publishes frequent newsletters, blessings, and e-Zines
To subscribe to these publications submit your email address in the box on the right.
Enchanted E-letters
Whether you are new to The Enchanted Self, or you just missed an issue, you can return to this page anytime to catch up on back issues. Simply click the book-marked links below to read the issue that you are interested in. You may even want to bookmark this page in case your reading gets interrupted. Enjoy!
Enchanted Articles
-
A Happier Me, on the-bright-side.org — Click here to read.
-
The Enchanted Self on Sir Froggie’s Positive News Network — Click here to read
Featured Quotes in Publications
THE CULTURE CRISIS …The answer (to the pursuit of happiness for black women) says positive psychology expert Barbara Becker Holstein* is to discover and love your authentic self-a skill many black women may already possess.
FINDING OUR JOY
“All women need genuine connections to themselves,” says Becker-Holstein, who has dedicated her career to creating a positive psychology for women. “But society tries to break that connection early in life. In America, by age 13, girls are already getting external messages to copy celebrities and give up their little girl treasures. We’ve been defined as a second-class culture and had our self-esteem suppressed with messages about marrying men with money and valuing ourselves through our looks. To be truly happy, every woman needs a life that supports the inner voice that sustains her hopes and dreams.”
HERE’S HOW
LAY YOUR FOUNDATION
…. (Mattie Miller) ….I learned to project happiness, and sometimes I think that helped me get it in return. I made a conscious decision to have a good life.”
That determination, says Becker-Holstein, author of The Enchanted Self: A Positive Therapy, is an important part of building a happy life. “Be assertive, get an education, decide on a profession, protect yourself economically. Take responsibility for establishing the life you want.”
CREATE YOUR OWN NARRATIVE
“Look at the women in your family and see where you fit in. Are your dreams and accomplishments represented? If not, decide to claim your unique gifts and accept the importance of your own narrative,” Becker-Holstein advises.
CELEBRATE YOUR GIFTS
“Acknowledge, appreciate your strengths,” Becker-Holstein says. “Count supportive friends, family and mentors among those gifts.”
GIVE OF YOURSELF
“Positive action and good deeds matter,” Becker-Holstein says, “Forgive, be helpful, smile at people-it’s all the more likely, as Miller learned, “that your happiness will be returned.”
No matter where you are in life, “almost all of us are capable of being happy,” Becker-Holstein continues, “if we can learn to truly bring pleasure, replenishment and self-care into our lives.”
Bridal Guide – Mar/Apr 07
“One reason a bride may feel down is that for so long she has something to look forward to and then suddenly she doesn’t,” explains Barbara Becker-Holstein, Ed.D., a psychologist in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Woman’s World – Aug 05
-
Listen to Barbara on:
Inspirational Celebrity and Book Reviews
Tuesdays
9:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. cst