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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