Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a best-selling author, award-winning Selfie Filmmaker, Positive Psychologist and podcaster. In all her books and films, Dr Holstein presents positive psychology as entertainment and a means to happiness.
We hear a lot about resilience and self-esteem these days. We all are born with some degree of these attributes. However as we face adversaries in life most of us need to enhance our capacities for resilience and self-esteem.
Helping us acquire and utilize more of these two extremely valuable traits is what Dr. Holstein's work is all about. Helping us have more self-esteem and resilience, resulting in more successful decision making and utilization of our unique talents and potential is her life mission and vision.
Whether she is writing and directing award-winning selfie films, publishing bestselling books, creating podcasts or stage plays, the driving force behind everything she does is to help people, particularly young people, become more resilient and build a strong sense of self-worth.
Dr. Holstein's selfie films, created to encourage resilience and build self-esteem, often focusing on coming of age issues, stand apart from other films in the genre for many reasons, but the primary reason is that she allows the young actress to make many decisions - from wardrobe to interpretation of parts of the script to filming many scenes with her smartphone. The result is the creation of films which people of all ages, from children to teens, to parents and grandparents can enjoy and use to discuss issues which people of all ages can relate to and enjoy and more forward to discuss better ways and approaches to dealing with difficult coming of age issues and decisions.
Her approach has resulted in films that have placed or been awarded over 100 times.
"Hundreds, if not thousands of people will be affected by a school shooting," Dr. Holstein stated. "Survivors, teachers, administration, the local communities. But it does not stop there. All school age children will be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, some so severe it will be akin to soldiers waiting to engage in a battle. That level of anxiety is not normal. For some, just attending classes may be overwhelming. There is a national emergency for youth mental health. Between 2016 and 2020, the number of children ages 3 to 17 who were diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and those with depression by 27%. We must all take action to deal with this, and we must be prepared to do this long term."
Dr. Holstein hopes to bring parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and media together to accomplish one goal: Change in the lives of young people who suffer from anxiety and a growing sense of hopelessness and despair.
Dr. Holstein wraps Positive Psychology concepts in forms of media that young people find engaging, relatable and inspiring. These include:
Three Bestselling, award-winning books (perfect for school libraries)
The Selfie Project
Award-winning films and selfie films
Podcasts
Dedicated websites
Stage plays
A library of articles
Ted-style talks
"I am making my latest film 'Lock Down' available to parents and educators," Dr. Holstein stated. "We have no time to waste in dealing with the safety of our kids, physically and emotionally. I hope 'Lock Down' will help generate the type of compassionate concern and connection that moves us as a society to thoughtful and timely solutions."
In addition, Dr. Holstein was one of five people chosen this year for the Wall of Honor at Norwalk High, her alma mater in Norwalk Connecticut, by the Norwalk High School Alumni Association.
"Let us never forget how hard it has been for women to have access to ways to develop their full potential. I know this first hand as without two encouraging parents, both in education for their life work, I probably would have ended up in a little house with a white picket fence, perhaps doing some volunteer work. Instead, I am now receiving an award on the Norwalk High School Alumni Association Wall of Honor as a person who has done outstanding work in my field over a number of years. Wow, I'm honored and also still determined to help people around the world come into their own professionally and personally by understanding their 'Enchanted Self' and what it means to let that part of themselves develop. Perhaps you would like to know more about finding your Enchanted Self and how that can help you move forward in life? Please listen or read my speech I delivered at the Wall of Honor 26th Awards Program."
As a school psychologist and in her private practice, Dr. Holstein has worked with many children and parents, helping them to develop life skills in decision-making, recognition of their own talents, feel more courageous, and helping both kids and parents develop more successful inter-generational skills. Her last book, ‘Conflict and a Bit of Magic’, helps kids build self-esteem though reading the journal of a girl, identifying with the girl, and understanding they have more courage and resiliency than they thought they had. The book is based on the experiences of the already famous “girl” from 'The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween' and 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', and achieved bestseller status in the multi-generational families category.
Dr. Holstein's cutting-edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both YouTube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel and Amazon Fire TV, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'.
Dr. Holstein recently created The Selfie Showcase, a new project emerging from The Selfie Project, that allows young people to voice their opinions on subjects that matter to young people, including the pandemic. She is now accepting submissions from the public for the "Selfie Showcase" and is actively seeking change-makers and mental health professionals to appear on her video podcasts.
The Selfie Showcase allows kids, teens, and young adults ages 13 to 18 to candidly express their concerns, worries, observations and possible solutions by creating selfie videos or films around important subjects using a smartphone. Dr. Holstein's mission is to help rectify, in several ways, some issues young people face by giving them a chance to engage with others in meaningful ways about the anxiety and stress they must grapple with constantly.
Selected participants may appear on the Selfie Project Channel, available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3uaOTcYF70z5CpBh11VoUQ. They will also appear in the Selfie Showcase on SelfieFilmmakers.com. They may be invited to be on Holstein's podcast or perhaps be a part of her next film. Full details, rules for submission and helpful hints can be accessed at the Selfie Filmmakers site at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com/instructions.
Holstein's unique Selfie Films have taken many awards and have been shown in many film festivals and competitions. A full list, now over 100, can be found at http://www.Enchantedself.com.
Holstein's podcast series is actively seeking change-makers and visionaries to appear on her podcasts. Dr. Holstein hopes to feature members of traditional media, mental health professionals and educators who can make a real difference in the lives of young people. Many of the podcasts feature young people - to give them a voice regarding their concerns and their solutions. Guests, if accepted, can arrange to appear by contacting Dr. Holstein directly.
Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com. ‘Seven Ways To Help Your Family Recover From The Pandemic’ is available at Amazon. More information about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Selfie videos and selfie films can be uploaded at the site. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.com.
Profile:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.
Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting. Her Roku channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.
She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, Time online, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.
Contact:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.enchantedself.com
Posts
