Judith McKay

Judith McKay, Ph.D.,grew up in Southern California and then moved to Ontario, Canada, where she attended York University and received her doctorate in clinical psychology. She has worked for over 25 years in a variety of hospital and private practice settings counselling clients regarding pain management and various aspects of health and behavioral medicine.

After designing and teaching the behavioral component of the Cardiovascular and Diabetes Risk Reduction Clinic at City of Hope Hospital in Duarte, California, she wrote the book "Bliss Lifestyle: Choosing Joy Over Food". She incorporates some of the experiences and insights she gleaned in working with clients whose health was jeopardized by their weight. She saw that they were able to lose hundreds of pounds, but largely unable to keep that weight off. She wanted to share her discoveries and conclusions about what a successful process of weight loss and maintenance would look like.

She said being overweight provides an opportunity for clients to really look at their lives and to design a plan of transformation--body and soul. If done mindfully and with awareness this plan can lead to a life of well-being and peace at a healthy weight. For life. It is a message that is dear to her heart and she plans on continuing with other books along this same focus.

Although she lives in San Diego currently she likes to spend a few months a year in Bucerias, Mexico. Walking on the beach and hearing the waves helps her create her own life of bliss. She mentioned, "You teach what you most need to learn, so talking about leading a more mindful life is very important for my own growth and comfort."