Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in California since 1978. She is the author of 9 books, including The 10 Smartest Decisions A Woman Can Make Before 40" and The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again. Her most recent books are The Ten Smartest Decisions A Woman Can Make After Forty (Renaissance Books, 2001), and The Real 13th Step (Career Press, 2001). Her practice includes individual and couple counseling.

Dr. Tessina's 25 years of experience in helping people shows in her writing. Her books are very practical, filled with "reader-friendly" exercises, suggestions, guidelines and examples. Although they are simply and elegantly written they are deceptively powerful.

Each of Dr. Tessina's books draws on the knowledge she has gained in her years of clinical work with individuals and couples. Each book was written as Dr. Tessina discovered a body of information needed
by her clients which was not already published. Her books are not mere speculation, but the concrete result of Dr. Tessina's experiences in helping people overcome their resistance, their fears and their emotional wounds.

Dr. Tessina has appeared extensively on radio and TV, including To Tell the Truth, Larry King Live, Oprah, CNN and ABC-TV News She has written and been interviewed for Glamour, Marie Claire,
Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, Time Online.com and many other national publications, and has been published in eleven languages. On the Internet, she is known as "Dr. Romance", the "Dating Doctor" and "The Love Doctor", as well as the resident dating expert on CouplesCompany.com. TOP

In addition to her professional work, Dr. Tessina is a trained opera singer, a lyric coloratura, and she gives a yearly vocal recital. She also writes poetry, song lyrics (her songs have been recorded by several well-known singers, including Helen Reddy), speaks Spanish and some French, and loves ballroom dancing.

She lives in Long Beach, CA with her husband of 19 years, Richard Sharrard, ballroom instructor and owner of the Dance Factory. Tina and Richard went around the world in 1998 as dance instructors on the Crystal Symphony cruise ship. They spend the little spare time they have traveling, enjoying their 1918 California Bungalow, gardening, and playing with their two dogs and one cat.

She earned both her BA and MA at The Lindenwood Colleges, St. Charles, MO, (1977) and her PhD at Pacific Western University, Los Angeles (1987). She is a Diplomat of the American Psychotherapy Association, and a Certified Domestic Violence Counselor.  TOP
 

About Tina Tessina's Books:
Dr. Tessina books reflect her conviction that everyone has unique talents and gifts. The key to satisfaction in life, work and relationships is learning to know and appreciate who we are and to express that in the most powerful and beneficial way. Difficulties in childhood or adult life often block, repress and distort our impression of self. When the blocks are removed, the person's original spirit and creativity will become obvious.

Dr. Tessina's books are about the many routes we can use to reach this clear understanding of who we are. Relationships, recovery, decision-making and dating are all motivating circumstances and desires we can use to unblock the gifts each of us inherits and develops throughout life.

Recent Books by Tina B. Tessina, PhD.
How To Be a Couple and Still Be Free (revised and expanded 3rd edition: Career Press, 2002)
(with Riley K. Smith) ISBN 1056414-549-2

The REAL 13th Step: Discovering Confidence, Self-Reliance and Independence Beyond the
Twelve Step Programs (New edition: Career Press, Aug 2001)ISBN 1-56414-548-4

The Ten Smartest Decisions a Woman Can Make AFTER Forty (Renaissance, March 2001)
ISBN: 1-58063-181-9 (also on audiotape)

The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again (Macmillan/IDG/Hungry Mind, NY 1999) ISBN:
0-02-862454-8

The 10 Smartest Decisions A Woman Can Make Before 40 (HCI, Deerfield Beach, 1998) ISBN:
1558746145 (also in 12 languages) (with Elizabeth Friar Williams)