Interview with Mary Kennedy

I first discovered author and clinical psychologist Mary Kennedy when she left a comment about goal setting here on Career and Kids. She mentioned the “SMART” method of goal setting in her comment and I was interested to find out more. As soon as I clicked over to her website, I knew I had to interview her.

She’s one of those people who seems to have “done everything.” She is a multi-published author, and a clinical psychologist in private practice on the east coast. She specializes in forensic work, and her clients have included murderers, psychopaths and convicted felons.

She also writes young adult novels, middle grade fiction and mysteries. She’s sold 33 novels, has a doctorate in psychology, a Master’s degree in Dramatic Arts, and has studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. In her quest for a ”real job,” she once worked as a television news writer for a CBS affiliate and as a copywriter for a rock radio station.

More than that, however, she has some excellent advice about goal setting. And isn’t that what we’re all thinking about these days? To top things off, Mary has generously donated three of her books as part of a giveaway!

I hope you all enjoy meeting Mary Kennedy as much as I did. Here’s her interview!

Image from Mary.

Your books have sold over 2 million copies. Very impressive! Tell us about some of your books and how you came to be a novelist.

Like most writers, I’ve had a checkered career history. One of my first bosses told me that I was either the most versatile person he’d ever met, or I showed a “complete lack of direction in my life.” Ouch. (I got the job, by the way, so I guess he decided it was good to be versatile. ) I’ve been a model, a radio copywriter for a Nashville rock station, a television newswriter, a college professor, the public relations director for a large travel company, and of course a clinical psychologist. Oh, and a writer!

I’m currently working on my 38th book. I started writing for middle grade students for Scholastic, then moved on to young adult novels for Penguin, and now am writing an exciting adult mystery series for Penguin. And the heroine (you guessed it) is a psychologist. And she happens to be a radio talk show host, like Frasier. You know, they say that everything is “material” to a writer, so I guess I’m living proof of that.

How did you make the leap from forensic psychology to young adult novels?

Actually, I’ve been writing for 20 years, so the writing came first. During a quiet spell, I decided to go back to school and do a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and I found myself interested in forensic psychology. I’ve never used my forensic psychology training in a novel, but I hope to, someday. The trouble is, I find myself writing light, funny books and I just can’t seem to get away from that.

What kind of clients do you work with and what types of issues do you help them with?

I work as a clinical psychologist in a really lovely group practice in Delaware. My clients include both adults and teens, and I’m seeing a lot of anxiety and depression, partly due to the economy. Occasionally I work with creative people; artists and writers, and that is especially rewarding. Artists have to deal with constant rejection and disappointment and I feel I can really help them with those issues since I’ve experienced them first-hand…

I think everyone naturally starts thinking about resolutions and aspirations at the start of the year. Tell us about the work you do in helping clients reach their goals.

Yes, you are so right, Cherie. I think all of my clients have made New Years resolutions, in spite of a recent study that showed the 98% of these resolutions will be abandoned in 14 days. A very discouraging statistic, but I try to help my clients devise clever strategies to guarantee success in achieving their goals.

Describe the SMART method of goal setting for our readers. What is the key to making this method work?

The SMART method is incredibly down to earth and practical. It’s also easy to remember, no complicated psychological jargon. Here’s a quick rundown.

S is for Specific. That means you must state your goal as specifically as you can, no generalities. So, don’t say, “I want to lose loads of weight.” Instead, say, “I want to lose fifteen pounds.”

M is for Measurable. The goal has to be something that can be measured, something tangible. Saying “I want to look thinner” is not measurable, it is too subjective. Saying “I want to be able to fit into this size ten dress by March” is measurable. Either you can fit into the dress or you can’t.

A is for Attainable. Let’s face it folks, there is a difference between goals and fantasies. If I said, “I want Brad Pitt to call and ask me out of lunch,” that would be a fantasy, not an attainable goal. If I said, “I would like to join the gym and meet a whole new circle of friends,” that would be an attainable goal. That is something that I have control over, something I can do.

R is for Realistic. Again, ask yourself the hard questions. If I said, “I want to lose 25 pounds in the next month,” I am setting myself up for failure. A pound or two a week is considered a healthy weight loss. So yes, you can lose 25 pounds, but it could easily take you six months to achieve your goal.

T is for Time Frame. It is very important to set a time frame when setting goals, because how else will you measure your progress and see if you are on track? If your goal is to de-clutter your office, give yourself a specific time frame to accomplish your goal. Perhaps if you worked on it every day for an hour, you would have a neat office in seven days! Having a neat office “someday” is only a fantasy. Having a neat office seven days from now is a goal. Big difference!

Your accomplishments certainly illustrate your belief in setting goals. What are you working on now?

I’m working on a really exciting mystery series for Penguin, called The Talk Radio Mysteries. Maggie Walsh is a New York psychologist who closes up her Manhattan office and moves to south Florida to take a job as a radio talk show host. And she solves a murder in every book. My agent pitched it as a cross between Frasier and Murder She Wrote. This is my first adult series and I’m enjoying every minute of it!

Anything else you’d like to add?

Yes, I’d like to share some goal-setting tips from my friend and fellow author, April Kihlstrom. April is a multi-published author and the acknowledged mistress of the Book in a Week course, which she teaches online. Here are two tips from April: “be sure to find a way to build in fun every day and as part of reaching for your goal. Also, ” break your goal down into small pieces and do them in the order that allows you to build experiences of success over and over again.” Excellent advice!

Thank you so much for having me as a guest, Cherie. I love Career and Kids and every day I find new –and wonderful–information on it. Hope I can come back and chat again when the first of the Talk Radio Mysteries is released!

Mary, we would love to have you back! Much success with your new book!

Want to win three of Mary’s books? Follow this link to the giveaway!