Strengthening Loving Relationships

Dr. Darlene Powell Garlington is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified school psychologist, and media psychologist. She is also a well-known author of eleven books published by Simon & Schuster, William Morrow, John Wiley and self-published. Her books focus primarily on building resiliency, holistic health, parenting, family dynamics, multiculturalism, co-parenting, male-female relationships and diversity.

Dr. Darlene was born and raised on Long Island, New York where she obtained her Master's degree in Applied Behavioral Psychology (Adelphi University - Garden City, NY), a second Master's and a Ph.D. in Clinical School Psychology (Hofstra University - Hempstead, NY). Her passion regarding children's racial identity led to the subject for her doctoral dissertation. She developed a replication and intervention focused on the famous doll study conducted by Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark and used in the landmark case, Brown vs. The Board of Education, which ended school desegregation. When she presented her results at the American Psychological Association in 1989, the Associated Press picked it up and an article appeared on the front page of the New York Times, and was covered in the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Cosmopolitan and Ebony, as well as numerous other newspapers and magazines. This coverage served as a springboard for Dr. Darlene's career. She became a consultant for Mattel Toys, Nickelodeon and Disney, and made frequent appearances on television talk shows such as Good Morning America, 20/20, The Today Show, Montel Williams, The Bill Cunningham Show, Anderson Cooper, Geraldo Live, and Judge Hatchett. She continues to appear in the media as an expert on personal relationships, individual/family resiliency, and diversity.

Dr. Darlene has been in private practice for nearly 30 years. Her practice, Dr. Darlene, provides supportive therapy for individuals, couples, children, youth and families. Her overall mission is to “empower others to become more self-actualized and to lead fulfilling lives.” She specializes in treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, vicarious PTSD, depression, suicidality and anxiety disorders. Dr. Darlene is also recognized as a clinical expert in the reintegration of military personnel back into family and community, as well as helping the family with deployment cycle adjustments. She recently completed a 5-year position as a Consultant for the Department of Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. Additionally, she has been an associate professor at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Dr. Darlene also consults for universities, Fortune 500 companies, community action agencies, hospitals, schools and child guidance clinics. Her many workshops, which focus on topics such as Building Resiliency, Anxiety, Depression, Holistic Health, ADHD, PTSD, Assertiveness, Bereavement, Women's Empowerment and Couples Counseling, are comprehensive, easy to understand and very well attended.

Dr. Darlene believes that as spiritual human beings, everyone is on this life journey to discover and actualize their purpose and passion. This applies to family life, community and the work environment. Dr. Darlene has endured difficult times in her private life, much like many of us, and was sorely tested when she went through a very traumatic experience that threatened to destroy her family. Although Dr. Darlene shares parts of this very personal story throughout her part memoir, part self-help book, "Blooming Again - Weathering Personal Storms and Growing Resilient Families," demonstrating how her family's resiliency was tested and strengthened through this very challenging time, her new book, "Dr. Darlene's Guide to 'Bloom Again' - Strengthening Your Body, Mind & Spirit," provides the reader with basic steps to building their own resilience while living a healthy, fulfilled, purposeful life.