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Therapist, Educator and Life Coach Diane Lang has dedicated her career to helping people turn their lives around and is now on a mission to help them develop a sustainable positive attitude that can actually turn one into an optimist, literally. A therapist and educator of Positive Psychology, she has seen that it can provide a strong foundation for finding great happiness and is gratified that it is becoming a mainstream method of treatment.

A parent herself, Lang has taught Positive Parenting to parents and written extensively on the benefits of using it with even the youngest children. She has also spoken or conducted seminars on postpartum depression, striving for balance versus having it all and practical tips on interviewing, networking and dressing for success and is the author of Baby Steps: The Path from Motherhood to Career.

A therapist at the Universal Institute in Livingston, NJ Lang counsels patients with traumatic brain injury and substance abuse. Her clinical experience includes treating patients with different forms of mental illness, physical and emotional abuse and relationship issues.  Lang is also an Adjunct Professor in Psychology at Montclair State University and Centenary College; her college work includes mentoring students for individual career counseling and personal issue advisement.

As an expert in her fields of therapy, Lang has been featured in the Daily Record and Cookie Magazine, seen on NJ 12 TV and the national television program “Fox & Friends”.  She has also participated in a reality based Internet show, ourprisoner.com, hosted Generation X-tinet and appeared in various educational videos. In addition Lang writes a bi-weekly column “The Working Mom” at Mommytalk.com and sharing her expertise on parenting on The WTBQ Expat Show.

Lang has an M.A. in Counseling and a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the New York Institute of Technology.

Thank you Diane for taking the time to answer some questions for us!  To start, please tell us about the latest project you've worked on.

I'm in the process of working on my second book: A Little taste of Happiness - simple ways to make a difference. I'm also continuing on with workshop series " The Super Mom series" which has recently been expanded into Pennsylvania.

Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?

Yes, I teach the workshop series called: The Super Mom series. I  teach workshops on positive parenting and two different lifestyle workshops: Create Balance & Relieve anxiety is a one night workshop. I also teach Happiness- living an optimistic lifestyle which is another one night workshop.

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your  profession?

As an adjunct professor at two colleges in NJ, we need to publish for our career. My writing is all related to my educational background as a therapist and career counselor.

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published?

Baby Steps the path from Motherhood to Career - moms reentering the workforce after having kids. Published by Kendall Hunt.

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

My book is for moms reentering the workforce. As a mom, I have lived thru the process, the confusion and mommy guilt so when I wrote the book I used my educational background as well as real life experience.

What will your next project be?

My new book based on positive psychology. A taste of Happiness - simple ways to make a difference. The book is almost done.

Who inspires you on a personal or business level?

Moms. I watch moms working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no vacation or sick time. They run a family, take care of the house, the budget, etc. Then you have  a lot of moms who also work a full time job! I'm always amazed and inspired by how they fit so much into one day and still smile.

What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?

Helping others whether it's thru my teaching at college or workshops and my counseling career.
 
What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?

I always tell my students who want to write psychology or self-help books. Write because you have something to say that can make a difference and help people.  The book should be written because you have a passion to help others.

How did you get started as a writer?

I really wanted to help moms. I watched moms struggle at my classes at college. They were going back to school, raising a family, taking care of the household plus working. I really wanted moms to have options.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Crazy!! I wake up around 6:30am, get ready for work then wake up my daughter around 7:30am and put he ron the bus for school at 8:45am and go straight to work. I start with my first client at 9:30am and go till about 3:30.

Then at night I either teach a class or a workshop. I try to leave myself a few hours in between to come home, see my daughter and eat dinner with my family. Weekends are family time - no work!

Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?

No, but I wish I did

Who is your favorite writer/author?

Ayn Rand

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

I have two - My favorite song to sing is unwritten but I have a 6 year old so I find myself singing Miley cyrus songs, especially 7 Things.

Thank you Diane! We wish you great success with your second book A Little taste of Happiness!