Dr. Laurie Nadel is a distinguished psychologist, former journalist, and trauma specialist whose life journey is shaped by resilience, human rights advocacy, and a deep commitment to healing. From escaping political danger as a foreign correspondent to rebuilding her life after a debilitating illness, her story reflects courage, compassion, and the power of inner transformation. Humans of Fuzia is honored to feature her for the profound impact she has made on those recovering from catastrophic life events—work that echoes our mission to uplift women and communities across the world.
What inspired you to begin your journey into trauma work and psychology?
I spent 20 years as a journalist, reporting from places like Chile during a state of siege. After being informed on to the junta and forced to flee, I began volunteering for human rights organizations. Burnout eventually led to severe chronic fatigue, which left me bedridden for years. With no cure available, I turned to mind-body medicine and meditation. This became the gateway to my studies in psychology and clinical hypnotherapy. For the last 35 years, I’ve been helping people navigate catastrophic life events and chronic illnesses—work deeply connected to my own experience of disability and healing.
What challenges did you face in building your practice?
I’m on the spectrum and have dyscalculia, so managing numbers, finances, and organization was a significant challenge—especially as a single mother running my own practice. Multitasking became a necessity. Another challenge was resisting the pressure to “market” myself like a brand. My work is human-to-human, deeply personal, and confidential. Each person requires focused listening, empathy, and tailored support.
What has been your proudest milestone?
My practice took shape before Google existed—Yahoo was the only search engine then. I became the first psychologist in New York City listed for trauma and PTSD. My greatest milestone, though, was the work I did after the September 11 attacks. My office was in the disaster zone, and I spent years supporting eyewitnesses, survivors, and teenagers who lost their fathers in the collapse. Leading those programs was an honor I hold with immense gratitude.
What is your perspective on women in leadership today?
We need more women in leadership. I truly believe that if the mothers of the world united, we would have less war. Our innate capacity to connect and nurture is a powerful leadership tool—one the world desperately needs.
What message do you have for future women leaders and entrepreneurs?
We need a revolution in kindness. Emotional intelligence—often dismissed as a “soft skill”—is actually a profound strength. Women can lead by modeling empathy and compassionate leadership, helping a frightened and fragile world move toward unity and hope.
How do you define success, both personally and professionally?
Success is not a distant trophy—it’s a question of how we are succeeding at being who we are. Are you the person you want, need, and deserve to be? When we shift from the abstraction of “success” to the daily practice of “succeeding,” we step into our authentic selves and our true purpose.
“We need a revolution in kindness—and women have the power to lead it.” — Dr. Laurie Nadel
Connect with Dr. Laurie Nadel
Laurie Nadel, Ph.D. | LinkedIn
Want to be featured?
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