• Diane AskewNeighbor

  • San Juan Capistrano, CA

After working as an executive secretary and certified shorthand reporter, I was  finally able to realize a longtime dream of going back to school and finishing  my doctorate to be able to practice as a clinical psychologist.  I was very young when my first marriage was ending, and I was fortunate enough to be referred by a friend to a  psychologist. I had never even heard of a psychologist,<br>but I was in enough pain to give it a try. I put myself and my life out there every week, and in time the healing<br>and awareness I experienced was like nothing I had ever known before.  He -- there were few female psychologists in those days -- talked like I thought, and I emerged from therapy knowing what I wanted to do in life.  It was a long road, with a few bumps and detours, but 7 junior colleges later, two years at UCI and 5 years in San Diego to complete my graduate work resulted in my being<br>able to do the work I wanted.  I have been in private practice since 1989, first in San Juan Capistrano and then in the surrounding areas.  As a long-time resident of San Juan, I am delighted to have been able to have my practice here exclusively for the last four years.  I see adolescents, adults, individuals, couples and families for a variety of reasons and concerns.

My 39-year residence in San Juan Capistrano has resulted in a tremendous respect for our city and its commitment to open space and historical preservation.  I belong to The Historical Society, The Fiesta Association and the Chamber of Commerce, and I volunteer when time permits.  In addition to my private practice, I am on the Medical Staff of Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach.  As part of my commitment to better health care in our area, I serve on the Physician Well-Being Committee, the Ethics Committee, and am on the Board of Directors for the Women Doctors of South Orange County.  I am also on the Board of Directors for the Orange County Psychological Association.

I have lived a very different life than what I imagined it would be. Raised on musicals and Westerns from the 50&#39;s, I was certain I would grow up, get married and live happily ever after, just like those magical stories promised.  Oh, and, of course, live vicariously through my husband. I decided as a young girl that I wanted to be married to a minister because the ministers I knew worked with people, and that meant I could work with people, too.  Obviously, it didn&#39;t work out that way, so I work with people on my own. Even though a long-term marriage didn&#39;t work out for me, it did for my parents and many people I know.  I am biased toward keeping marriages together if at all possible; however, if it&#39;s too late, I help people get through the pain and make the necessary adjustments.  My favorite work to do is premarital counseling, where couples can get started on a solid foundation. I&#39;m still a romantic, but I am divorced, a single mother of three grown children, a step-mother of two grown step-children and a madly-in-love grandmother of two precious granddaughters.

My many experiences have added to my capacity<br>for empathy, compassion and understanding, and I hope that what I share with you through this blog will be helpful and perhaps inspire you to want to improve your own quality of life.  It is mean to educational, not therapeutic; however, if there are questions I can answer, I would be glad to do that, or refer you to someone who can.<br><br>I will leave you with this thought about aging. When my oldest granddauthter was told my age at my recent birthday celebration, her eyes got very big, and she turned to her mother and said, Mommy, Grandma is really big -- she&#39;s bigger than daddy.&#34;  So we don&#39;t get older, we get bigger -- at east according to a very wise little 3 1/2 year-old.

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