46 | OCTOBER 13 • 2022 

WOMEN’S HEALTH

F

or more than 30 years, licensed psy-
chologist Linda Sircus has been serv-
ing the Metro Detroit area and the 
greater United States. “I was always inter-
ested in people’s stories,
” she says. “I’m still 
fascinated by human beings and behavior.
”
Based in Franklin, Sircus 
Psychological Services, PLLC, 
is the result of many years of 
hard work. Throughout her 
three-decade career, Sircus has 
worked at the Milan Federal 
Correctional Institution with 
inmates in a low-security pris-
on; at South Florida State Hospital with 
clients who have autism and developmental 
delays; and as a lecturer at the University of 
Michigan, where she taught undergraduate 
abnormal psychology. 
Still, these three positions barely scratch 
the surface of Sircus’ extensive resume in 
psychology and mental health services. 
She’s also the producer and host of a weekly 
cable television program called Managing 
the Problems of Daily Living on Bloomfield 
Community Television, which has been an 
ongoing project for the past six years.
Yet, when Sircus studied at the University 
of Michigan herself, where she later ended 
up teaching, she didn’t know that psycholo-
gy was a potential career path. After taking 
a psychopathology class her junior year of 
college, however, her mind was changed.
“I was all in,
” Sircus recalls.
From there, Sircus continued taking more 
psychology courses. She learned about 
behavior modification and the science 
behind mental health. While Sircus initially 
wanted to become a pediatrician, the field of 
psychology won over her heart.
The most rewarding part of the field, she 
says, is “when you see people get relief from 
their symptoms.
” Some of these people, 
Sircus continues, never considered seeking 

out psychotherapy — but experienced tre-
mendous growth and positive change as a 
result.
On the contrary, encountering a reluc-
tance within patients to open up about their 
feelings and experiences can be a challenge, 
but one that Sircus says ultimately becomes 
rewarding when the conversation begins to 
naturally develop itself.

EMPOWERING OTHERS
Throughout her career, Sircus has worked 
with numerous specialties in psychology. 
She provides cognitive behavioral therapy 
for depression and anxiety, fears and pho-
bias, relationship issues, pregnancy loss and 
infertility issues, stress management, eating 
disorders and coping with illness.
Many of these topics are covered on 
Managing the Problems of Daily Living. 
During the show, Sircus interviews special-
ists and professionals who come from differ-
ent fields of psychology and mental health 
to share their perspective and expertise on 
various issues.
So far, the show’s more than 100 episodes 
have tackled the areas of drug and alcohol 
abuse, elder care, PTSD, self-empowerment 
and more. One program on LGBTQ+ thera-
py even won the 2017 Farnsworth Award for 
LGBTQ Issues Underserved Voices.
“I’ve learned that having conversations 
with people, affirming them, problem-solv-
ing and coming up with strategies can be 
really helpful,
” Sircus says, “and can help 
people walk through whatever it is they’re 
managing.
”
In addition to her career, Sircus has been 
heavily involved in the Metro Detroit Jewish 
community. She served as vice president of 
Michigan State University Hillel from 2009-
2017 and on the board of Temple Beth El 
from 2003-2009.
Sircus is also a founder of Circle of 

Friends, CARE House of Oakland County, 
which provides services for child abuse and 
neglect. Now, she’s gearing up to bring her 
daughter, Hilary Sircus, who is currently 
completing her training, into her practice, .

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL THERAPY
After 30 years in the field, Sircus has learned 
that the key to successful mental health 
therapy relies on trust, relationship and a 
willingness to go through change.
“If you’re experiencing trauma, you don’t 
necessarily want to go in and talk about 
that,
” she says. “There has to be trust [with 
your therapist]. People are sharing their 
biggest vulnerabilities. You have to be com-
fortable.
”
Sircus recommends patients begin with 
6-8 sessions to gauge whether the therapist 
they’re working with is a good fit for their 
needs and mental health goals. It’s important 
to give it a fair shot, she says, since the bene-
fits of therapy aren’t always instant.
It’s that connection that encourages prog-
ress, Sircus explains. At the end of the day, 
however, progress is achieved entirely by 
those who embark on the therapy journey.
“The more conversations you have, the 
more normalized mental health is,
” Sircus 
says, “the less stigmatizing mental illness and 
any kind of disabilities are.
” 

You can watch episodes of Managing the Problems of 

Daily Living at drlindasircus.com.

Meet veteran psychologist Linda Sircus 
who is working to end the stigma on her TV show.

Normalizing 
Mental Health Care

Linda 
Sircus

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Linda Sircus with 
daughter Hilary Sircus

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