We recently connected with Dr. Mimi Amaral and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Mimi, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I’m not exactly sure I would say “Overcome” imposter syndrome; rather, integrate the concept differently. I understand that my journey is an evolving spectrum where I may embrace tools that reflect aspects of Self; and that the tools are merely pieces that contribute to the essence of who I am as a human being. Therefore, I’m able to appreciate and honor the expansion without identifying with a title or milestone. I feel conscious expansion is a gift, and it is something I chose to value, so by viewing life in this manner I understand that no matter the tools I seek and acquire I am still merely human. I am truly grateful to have acquired knowledge and wisdom, thus far, that I may share with others with the aspiration to empower them to seek, discover, and expand their own journey of life. Each of us begins our own path at birth and along the way may choose ingredients, per se for simplicity, that make up our own unique recipe of Self, this process may evolve and expand throughout life, and it may not; but no one need be judge for their choice.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Previously I shared with Bold Magazine that at age 15 1/2 I was told I had six months to live. This is a very long story, but if anyone is interested, they may find details on my website and listen to two podcasts on my Bio Page: https://mimipsy-d.com/. Additionally, as far back as I can remember I always felt guided by Source, including through my darkest times. This guidance played a significant part in how my path unfolded, including writing and publishing five books, walking with my parents through sickness and the end-of-life process, and attaining education that encompassed a business and clinical psychology degree.
Currently, I am grateful to be working at Harbor Psychiatry & Mental Health, Newport Beach as Psychological Associate and IVF Specialist with the Maternal Health Program. My experience working here has been very rewarding, and the entire team is amazing from the Clinical Director, doctors, PAs, and case managers and medical staff to the billing, IT, HR, and all administrative and support staff. Additionally, in May I was able to get my book: Alternative Conception: From Infertility to Delivery in the swag/gift bags at the Seeds Ethics Convention held in Colorado; and I have been invited to return for the Seed Ethics fall conversation in San Diego in November.
Another aspiration of mine is to eventually expand my specialty to include the end-of-life process and highlight another book I wrote Death: Before & After, A Survivors Guide. After walking with my father through his cancer battle toward death, and while taking care of my mom through her illnesses then through the end-of-life process; I wrote this book to discusses every aspect one may encounter during the process to empower others to understand they are not alone.
I’ve been grateful to embrace many tools and wear multiple hats while walking along my journey thus far, including writing a few books. I feel I need to give credit to Source too, and not just myself because the books came to me in dreams; including the chapter headings, book covers, and the idea of including anonymous testimonies to give the books the personal touch I aspired.
Two of the books have already been mentioned previously, and the other three are: Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Shadow Side of Celebrity and Fame, which was based off a petition I created with the APA my first semester of graduate school for an aspired division, Entertainment Psychology, and my doctoral dissertation, published July 2018; the second book titled: Emasculated: Men Are Abused Too, published September 2018; and the third book titled: Lurking in the Dark: Reality of The Times, published August 2020.
Anyone who would like to purchase one of these books may find them on Amazon; just type in Mimi Amaral.
Additionally, I’m very excited to share that I’m back to my journalists endeavors by writing for Splash Magazine again. Covering events, concerts, fundraisers, red-carpet events, and award shows has always empowered me to embrace the creative tools I’ve acquired along my path. I feel very blessed to have attended and covered many events, which allowed me to create many memorable experiences, and I aspire to expand upon those by making many new memories throughout my life’s journey.
Book Descriptions:
Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Shadow Side of Celebrity and Fame: This book delves into the shadow side (unspoken aspects) of celebrity and fame for entertainers and athletes. One may think being in the world of entertainment and sports is a dream come true, but is it? The hidden truths are exposed and explored within. The reader will be led through the possible subjective reality and brings to life the unique issues that entertainers and athletes face in their industries. Subjects covered, but not limited to, are: Lifestyle Risks (e.g., loneliness and isolation, anxiety, depression, acute decomposition, drugs, and death); Lack of Personal Space (e.g., para-social relationships, worship, obsession, stalking, and paparazzi); Fall from Grace (e.g., ageism, plastic surgery, type casting, coming out, and child stars); Observation and Integration (e.g., Advocacy); Shadow to Light (e.g., fast forward to present day).
Emasculated: Men Are Abused Too: This book illustrates the shadow side of abuse by providing several firsthand accounts of men who survived abuse. For there to be a shift in the way we perceive abuse and who can perpetrate it, we must understand where our beliefs about gender, gender ideals, and gender roles come from in order to comprehend how men can be abused in many of the same ways a woman can. When we discuss toxic relationships or relationship abuse, we expect to hear stories of women being abused and mistreated by their male partners. This is because we hold the belief that men are strong, aggressive, violent, and controlling, and women are soft, physically weak, nurturing, and loving. This has led us to the shadow attribute that men cannot be abused, and if they are, then they are less of a man.
Death: Before & After, A Survivors Guide: Within some cultures, the process of death—before, during, and after—is not commonly or freely discussed. With great care, this book delves into many aspects that may be present along the spectrum of the end-of-life journey: from legal aspects (i.e. executor and medical directive), hospice care, and palliative care to family dynamics, funeral arrangements, and the logistics of closing a loved one’s life. In addition, this book provides firsthand accounts within each chapter to help support those who may feel alone, lost, or unsure of how to navigate the process. Furthermore, the book discusses a commonly overlooked aspect, assisted suicide, in hopes to generate awareness and create a safe space for an open discussion for those wanting to understand more about this topic. No one is alone; we will all face this aspect of life’s journey with a loved one at some point during our lifetime.
Lurking in the Dark: Reality of The Times: This book examines many of the intricate issues that are present during adolescence and young adulthood. In Western culture, there are several shadow aspects to adolescence and young adulthood: Puberty, sexuality, sex, masturbation, drug experimentation, human trafficking, pressure to succeed, school shootings, and abusive adolescent relationships all exist and need to be discussed openly. This book mindfully attempts to explore these shadow and unwitnessed subjects and provides resources for young readers. In addition, this book provides firsthand accounts within each chapter to help support those who may be trying to navigate the process. It is important for parents or guardians to openly discuss these topics in a loving, accepting, unjudging manner. Sadly, the shadow aspects of American culture often triumph, and many adolescents and young adults do not get that opportunity.
Alternative Conception: From Infertility to Delivery: Though it is not the everyday conversation in most cultures, it is not uncommon for couples to struggle with conception and infertility. Both men and women can struggle with issues of infertility. This book is written with the aspiration to empower intended parent(s) with as much information as possible to ease the whirlwind of uncertainty and questions surrounding infertility and In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). It guides the reader through the options and process of the IVF journey. This book may help those who are considering the alternative conception route toward creating and/or expanding their family.
Again, anyone who would like to purchase one of these books may find them on Amazon; type in Mimi Amaral. As I was writing the books I chose not to add the prefix Dr. to four out of five of the books. I did this with the aspiration to reach the largest audience possible, to help anyone who may be struggling, and to empower an understanding that they are not alone.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Life rules I set for myself are: Breathe, Observe, Respond.
I have done this since I was very young. I have always been one to observe everything, take it all in, and then contemplate what I witnessed so I may come to my own opinion about everything. Simply put, “Taking the Pause.”
To breathe allows for a pause to be mindful not to blurt out something you may regret saying later, to observe allows one to take an eagle’s eye perspective allowing for space between self and situation so to gain perspective, and when one feels the time is healthy one may respond in a conscious, mindful manner.
These three words have been vital and empowering for my entire life’s journey thus far. Hope they help someone else.
I guess the best advice I would give out is:
Take the pause, show yourself grace, and remember no one is immune to growing pains and it is a journey; everyone is on their own path and timeline including yourself so stop comparing yourself to others.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
Honestly, the most impactful thing my parents did for me was both being willing to completely open and become vulnerable to me the last years of their life. What do I mean by that …?
Maybe it will be easier to explain like this … One question we may all want to ask ourselves: Do I walk with my parent[s] through illness and/or the end-of-life process, or not?
Regardless of the relational dynamics between child and parent[s] we will all face the above question. This is an individual subjective choice, and no one need to be judged for the choice they make.
Father: 1944-2013 and Mother: 1943-2023
During both parent’s process I was able to co-create a safe, confidential, nonjudgmental space for each to transparently confide in me and share their: thoughts, fears, regrets, doubts, secrets, and so much more … Everything disclosed goes to my grave – Not my stories to tell. I hope during the time shared, 2 years with dad – 10 years with mom, it helped empower healing for their final transition. Also, I would like to witness and show gratitude to my parents for trusting me during their process.
Additionally, by co-creating sacred space with my parents it helped me ask the hard questions, face childhood wounds, feel and work through the pain while healing myself so to “Not” project it onto others or pass it to another generation. During this time, I was able to learn their subjective truth and witness them in a way I could never imagine. I feel blessed to have been able to walk them through illness and end-of-life to death; I believe it was a deep awakening and healing journey for each of us.
If I may suggest: Open the conversation, hold a nonjudgmental safe space, ask the questions that need to be asked, and allow all subjective truths to be heard and witnessed. In addition, try to remember that parents are merely individual spirits on their own journey trying to figure out their path as it unfolds; Just Like You! Parents are: No better, no worse, and have many needed experiences and lessons toward their own evolution. Some parents may choose to embark on their journey of self-actualization toward healing, and some may not. Again no one needs to be judged for the choice they make.
To heal generational conditioning, ancestral trauma and/or relational dynamics so it is not passed to another generation someone must be willing to hold space and go into the darkness without judgement, rather to bear witness and face subjective: truth, hurt, fear, sorrow, projections, etc. … May we all find the strength to hold that container to help the healing process for the sake of our children and future generations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mimipsy-d.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.MimiAmaral/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcyaRStGpLU
- Other: Other Links:
Harbor Psychiatry & Mental Health, Newport Beach: Psychiatrists Orange County, CA | Psychologists Orange County, CA https://harbormentalhealth.com/
Alternative Conception: From Infertility to Delivery:
Seedsethics: https://seedsethics.org/
Death: Before & After, A Survivors Guide :
Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Shadow Side of Celebrity and Fame: Amazon.com: Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The
Shadow Side of Celebrity and Fame eBook :
Entertainment Psychology Aspired Division:
https://www.apa.org/about/division/entertainment-psychology-petitionEmasculated: Men Are Abused Too:
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Emasculated-Men-Are-Abused-Too-ebook/dp/B07HMDLL7Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FHAB12C8IC1Z&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.s0AzmLRt6FVBLC5pp9HB5SGUgD0htZwJr4QFXWJyWYivOeDVQbzT62OPRD2x_lgtE-ttBJCe6yDeKQarRIGWoiw-HA_V_bHNBuZAvHxG_3Q.arMub9Io_b1C9nRDrambNOmDRZPrzBSQVmVo8r30uMw&dib_tag=se&keywords=mimi+amaral&qid=1720819004&sprefix=mimi+amaral%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1Lurking in the Dark: Reality of the Times: Amazon.com:
Image Credits
Tammy Stover and Mimi Amaral
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
