by Kathleen Keating

The meaning of my life is to feel, know, and share the many dimensions of love: the courage to grow, the vulnerability to give and receive, to understand with compassion, to use anger constructively for justice ~ and to always be open to the delight of play and the deep pleasure of a warm embrace. ~ kks

My full name is Kathleen Keating Schloessinger because I’m married to Fred Schloessinger. He is my partner in love and life, but I thought I would keep it simple and stick with just ‘Keating’ as author for my books.

I wrote The Hug Therapy Book when I was director of professional education at a private psychiatric hospital in California. I was inspired to write it because I understood we need more than pills to heal our wounded psyches - we also need the touch of love.

However, if you meet me, you might be surprised to learn that I'm a ‘conservative hugger’ because I respect that many people find physical touch uncomfortable - especially with casual acquaintances. There is even a section in the book called Ethics of Hug Therapy. Still, we can all begin to break the touch barrier by giving and receiving lots of warm hugs and tender touching in our families and with close friends.

As a therapist, it was important to be a compassionate listener, but I also presented seminars on: The Power of Touch, The Nature of Love and Intimacy, The Wounded Healer - For Health Care Providers, How To Love Child, How To Talk To Women - For Men Only and How To Talk To Men - For Women Only.

On very rare occasions I'm available to give presentations - in exchange for travel expenses and a generous donation to my favorite charities! (I have a graduate degree in clinical psychology and am a registered nurse in California and Missouri - specialty in psychiatry and mental health.)

We live on Vancouver Island surrounded by all of the beauty and serenity of nature. I'm now retired from my practice as a psychotherapist and enjoy writing and reading - and walking in the beautiful parks of British Columbia.