Interviewing Dr. Judy Ho, PhD, Author of “Stop Self- Sabotage” for Suzy Approved Book Tours, ​by Linda’s Book Obsession

Lindas Book Obsession Interviews Dr. Judy Ho, Ph.D., Author of “Stop Self-Sabotage” for Suzy Approved Book Tour

Thank you Dr. Judy Ho, Ph.D. for being so helpful and providing such an insightful interview.

 

1. What was your motivation in becoming an author and writer? What did you do before you were a writer?

***I wanted to help as many people as possible with the skills and knowledge I acquired as a clinical psychologist. I’ve been writing for a long time, but mostly for research journals, and I was really interested in writing something that could reach more people, particularly on the topic of Self-Sabotage, which seems to plague the best of us from time to time!

2. What motivated or inspired you to write?

I was motivated by seeing the many people that are impacted by self-sabotage. Many of these people are really successful in many areas of life but there is just one area that they keep hitting a wall. For some reason, they are unable to meet a specific goal despite their best efforts. Sometimes people seem embarrassed or even ashamed that they keep stumbling. I wanted to remove the shame and mystery of self-sabotage and show people a way they can eradicate it from their life once and for all.

3. How did you go about researching for your book?

I did a lot of research!!! I perused journal articles, textbooks, cutting edge research studies, best practices papers, and consulted my own experience in treating patients and talking to hundreds of people about their issues with Self-Sabotage.

4. What are your goals for readers to take away after reading?

Self-Sabotage is universal! We are biologically predisposed towards it, and it gets all of us at one point or another. But don’t be afraid if it becomes a pattern, once you know what’s triggering it, you can apply my six step program – it’s practical and efficient and will stop self-sabotage in your life for good.

 

5. What is a typical day of your life?

I wake up at 5 am, do a little Bible reading, and enjoy a lovely coffee while I catch up on my emails and write my to-do list. Then, I go running. It is the most therapeutic thing for me, clears my head, and I get the fresh air I crave since most days I am working indoors for many hours. Depending on the day, I either see patients, teach or do research at the University, serve as an expert witness in court, tape a TV show or two and of course, write 🙂

 

6. What are your hobbies or things you do in your downtime?

I love singing, playing the piano, running, biking, hiking, snowboarding, and I dabble in the circus arts (flying trapeze, aerial hoop). I love anything that’s active and involves my mind at the same time!

7. What can you tell us of any new writing projects that you might have?

Yes! I am writing a brief guide on building self-confidence that’s rooted in science and helps people build their self-esteem from the inside out. The guide may turn into a full-length book! I am also doing research on burnout among professionals. It’s a hot topic right now, and burnout just made it into the diagnostic manual as a condition that we need to be looking at more closely. I think we need to talk about it more and solve the problem since it appears to be growing.

8. What are your favorite genres of books that you like to read?

Sci-Fi and Fantasy! My all-time favorite books are the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

9     What advice can you give to someone that wants to be a writer?

Be patient. Have a routine for yourself, and build it piece by piece. Don’t worry if you can’t see the end result in the beginning, The writing project evolves over time and can morph and change, so stay flexible. The most important thing is structure. Make sure to set aside a little time for yourself each week, or each day (if possible), to write, even if it is just 30 minutes to 1 hour. Make sure there are no distractions when you are writing. Set a timer and promise yourself you will sit there until the time is up. Some days the writing will flourish more than others, and that’s ok. Writing naturally ebbs and flows so just go with it.

10. If your book were adapted to the screen, what actors, actresses could you envision for the main characters?

Oh, what a fun question! I would love for some of my favorite actors to each play out a person who struggles with a self-sabotage problem, whether it be work, relationships, health, or a bad habit. I would love to have Lena Headey, Max Greenfield, Eva Mendes, Blair Underwood, and Chris Pine star in the movie version of Stop Self-Sabotage.

 

11. How would you like the readers to connect with you?

 

Please follow me @drjudyho (Instagram and Twitter) and check out my website at www.drjudyho.com. Pre-order my book now and receive some bonus gifts – all the details are on my website!