Letter to the Editor

written by Joe Siegler, MD in response to an article by William Styron:

In "Why Primo Levi Need Not Have Died," William Styron eloquently weaves together the threads that make up what psychiatrists call a major depressive episode (Op-Ed, Dec. 19). But I am concerned with his discussion of treatments...

...Thus, the passage of time is not acceptable treatment of depression. People with depression and those who care for them need to turn to the many effective treatments that are available. Enough suffering, enough stigma.

Realistic resolve

January 2

BY TAMMY CHASE AND MAUREEN JENKINS Staff Reporters

• Feeling altruistic? "What can become your self-enhancement resolution that's also beneficial to others?" Siegler asks. It may mean volunteering at a soup kitchen or launching a nonprofit business.
• Tap into a higher power. Getting in tune with the religious or spiritual is a top priority for many, but "they haven't found a congregation they like. The 'assignment' is to go to a different weekly [worship] service until they find a place they feel is the best selection."
  
• Decide to become your best self. Reconnect regularly with family and friends. Make quality reading a priority, And don't forget to travel, because "playfulness has to be part of adult life."

Redefining single

December 4

BY MAUREEN JENKINS Staff Reporter

TV shows like "Sex and the City," "Friends" and "Seinfeld" -- still going full force as reruns -- have shown that "not only is it OK, but it can be a blast," says Full Life Centers' Joe Siegler. "I think the whole concept that you can have a lot of fun being single is taking a lot of the pressure off."

It's all about options, says Dr. Joe Siegler, a psychiatrist and founder of Full Life Centers, which offers personalized life coaching on everything from career management to dating strategies. "Never before have women had all these choices," he says. " 'Do I want to get married? Do I want to have a child as a single parent? Do I want to have a child biologically? Do I want to be with a younger man? Do I even want to date?' For the first time, people are free to be true to themselves."

And, with more women feeling free to shape their own realities -- choosing to stay unmarried, entering long-term relationships, deciding not to have kids -- American society is changing "in revolutionary ways," says Siegler, the psychiatrist.

'Secret' society

Are we finally discovering the truth that's been hidden from us for centuries, or is this new phenomenon just taking advantage of us?

BY MAUREEN JENKINS, Staff Reporter
February 23

New wisdom or smart marketing?
"This book and DVD is a little capsule of hope and enthusiasm," says Dr. Joe Siegler, a life and executive coach and president and founder of Chicago-based Full Life Centers. "This is another example of a cathartic weekend or a Sunday sermon. Even if you know 90 percent of it, it's good to hear it again."

While Siegler loves "The Secret's" emphasis on positive thinking's effect on feelings, he says the tenets of the book and DVD are nothing new. Religious books such as Rick Warren's best-selling The Purpose-Driven Life and fellow megachurch pastor Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now -- as well as secular tomes such as Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People -- trade in everything from abundant life to reaching one's potential.

Still, people "need to be reprimed, like an espresso maker. If it's not fresh in your mind, you need a priming. We use television, we use books, we use Oprah, we use friends to inspire ourselves."
The book and DVD give examples of cancer patients who laughed and positive-thought their way back to good health -- and that troubles Siegler, who also is a medical doctor.
"They're starting to sell snake oil at that point," says Siegler, who otherwise is a "Secret" fan. "The medical piece is almost like a sick person would be blamed if they don't get over [his disease]."
He wishes the concept offered more concrete steps and strategies on changing one's life. "They tell you to act, but don't tell you how," he says. "What's being left out is the incremental work done over time and measuring outcomes."

Universal values' without invoking religion
what "The Secret" does well, says Siegler, is expressing the ubiquitous nature of humanity's hopes and dreams. "My clients are longing for universal values. People see themselves as less different than others," he says.

MAY 28
Letters to the Editor

'Cloaked' discrimination

As a physician and executive coach, I often see the results of "cloaked" discrimination in organizational practices. Many corporations claim to take an interest in minority empowerment but, in practice, actively apply double standards that are covert forms of discrimination.

The future health and longevity of our heterogeneous world depends on actions beyond words-- corporate and individual practices consistent with the belief that all people are truly equal.
Organizations need to establish and reinforce the critical, non-negotiable value of interpersonal respect for all.

Continuing Education Guide

Make a commitment: How to get the job done

You’re ready to make a switch, so it’s time to get serious and make a plan, says psychiatrist Joe Siegler, the president and founder of Lincoln Park coaching center Full Life (773-529-1200, fulllifecenters.com). Check out his tips to go from vague career direction to concrete career plan.

Be clear
No matter how set you are on a new career, step back and think long and hard…about nothing. Whether you do yoga, meditate or go for a walk, pondering your new career with a clear mind—what Siegler calls “white space thinking”—will provide clearer direction. Maybe you think you want to be a schoolteacher, but instead discover your inner organizational instructor. “Usually other areas [of your life] affect career; it might be family pressures or fear. It’s amazing what happens when you clear your mind of all the ‘shoulds,’ ” Siegler says.

Make a list
Round out your career direction even further with two magic words: pro and con. Toss ten possible careers on a pro-con list, along with your current job—even if you think you already know exactly which industry you’re headed for. Siegler says to approach each option from every angle (salary, stress level, happiness factor, etc.). Listing positives and negatives side by side will enable you to see more of the big picture and ensure you’re leaving your job for the right reasons.

Get serious
Siegler suggests doing a small research assignment on whichever field you’ve chosen. “It’s daunting for people to make [big] changes, [so] this helps them organize all their tasks,” he says. Your lists might include tasks like looking into necessary certifications and typical work schedules. If you’re unsure where to begin, network with people in your desired industry and add tasks as they’re uncovered.

Write stuff
Track all of the info you’ve compiled into a new career business plan, a written document on your computer or in a notebook. Siegler says it doesn’t have to be fully fleshed out—or even written in order—but this living, breathing document allows you to keep tabs on your progress. “The more detail you put into it, the better,” he says. “Come up with a plan you’re going to implement and that’s going to last.”

Come again
Don’t settle for a job that’s subpar—if you find yourself in a rut, rework your business plan and set a few quick goals for yourself. “This process is all about finding your calling—something greater than a career that links all aspects of your life and starts to feel less like work,” Siegler says, adding that if we keep at it and consistently monitor our progress, we all have the potential to achieve something greater than a simple 9-to-5.—

Published August 10

Wednesdays with mommy

As the "newness" wears off, a group of new mothers is looking ahead

BY TAMMY CHASE AND MAUREEN JENKINS Staff Reporters
More women are taking themselves out of the workforce to raise their children; the Census Bureau recently reported that 55 percent of women who gave birth between July 1999 and July 2000 returned to the labor force within a year, down from 59 percent in 1998. But greater numbers don't make it any easier, especially with Chicago's long and isolating winters, to find like-minded women going through the same phase of life.

Adds Joe Siegler, a psychiatrist who runs Full Life Centers, a storefront therapy business in Lincoln Park:
"Life doesn't happen in a vacuum. You have to do it through relationships."