Q&A with Claudia Schwarz MFT, Nat’l Director of Outreach for J. Flowers Health
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME…
Claudia Schwarz is a Board Certified, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has decades of experience in various mental health settings. In addition to having a successful private practice since 2003, she worked the past several years as a Therapeutic and Educational Consultant, and is a Clinical Member of IECA. She is currently the National Director of Clinical Outreach at the J. Flowers Health Institute. She is committed to helping to strengthen and support people with therapeutic needs and to bridge the gap between therapeutic support professionals. Claudia has well established professional relationships that include Consultants, Admissions and Outreach Teams, Leadership Teams, Educational and Family Law Attorneys, Therapists, Psychiatrists, and Physician’s. She has extensive program knowledge, and understands appropriate diagnostic and clinical referrals. Claudia has had additional training and certifications in Cognitive Behavioral and Family Systems specialties, as well as Custody Evaluations, Child Interviews, Child Reunification and Parenting Coordination. She is highly skilled in working with a wide range of therapeutic issues as well as adapting to diverse populations. She has taught continuing education to professionals nationwide in Understanding the Different Levels of Care in Mental Health Treatment, Parenting Coordination, Child Interviews, Pathogenic Parenting, Reunification and Custody Evaluations.
Claudia and her husband have two boys and she has been very involved in the school district, having served as the PTO President for three terms. Claudia is active in the community and has been seen regularly over the years on both news and radio as an expert on mental health issues. In addition to being a working mom, she enjoys most outdoor sports, including skiing, triathlons, and marathons.
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I was born in Aspen, Colorado, but my family moved to Oregon when I was in grade school and I grew up in Salem, Oregon.
Q. From what school or teacher did you learn the most?
A. I learned the most from my undergraduate teacher Ms. Sue Kroger, who taught me so much about neuroscience and biopsychology. She and I participated in a published study on brain morphology and how it relates to dementia.
Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. St. Judes’ Children’s Hospital. I am currently a strong supporter, and I know how valuable support is for their cause.
Q. Who is your favorite poet?
A. Shel Silverstein
Q. If you were putting together a time capsule from 2020 what 5 things would you put in it?
A. Toilet Paper, Hand Sanitizer, Amazon Prime Box, Book on How to Make Sourdough Bread, Zoom Meeting Protocol Instructions
Q. Are you more inclined to believe in UFO’s or life after death, or both?
A. Both!!
Q. Do you believe in God or a Higher Power?
A. I do, I am a Christian
Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?
A. All the Stephen King books, all of the V.C. Andrews books, and most of the Patricia Cornwell books.
Q. What is your FAVORITE weekly news bulletin?
A. Addiction/Recovery Bulletin of course!
Q. Do you have any children?
A. I have two boys, both young adults now and they are my heart!
Q. Have you started any new projects because of the quarantine?
A. We were fortunate enough to be chosen for an HGTV Home Improvement show during quarantine, and although they tackled the remodel of most of our home, we are continuing with the rest and are currently in the midst of a bathroom remodel.
Q. If you ever retire would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop or penthouse?
A. I live four blocks from the beach right now, so in my retirement I’d like to have a home in the mountains, I love to ski!!
Q. What is your favorite hotel or resort?
A. I have many favorite hotels and resorts, but the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City during the winter is one of the best, and the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii is one I always go back to.
Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be? (choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A Stephen King (I think he has a fascinating imagination) V.C. Andrews (I could not get enough of her books as a young girl, and always wanted to meet her and pick her brain) Thich Nhat Hanh (A guru in my opinion)
Q. What books are you reading now?
A. The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewel
Q. What is your FAVORITE Radio show, news show, podcast?
A. I love True Crime. Obsessed with Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle, as well as any Dateline (podcast, show or series) with Keith Morrison. I LOVE LOVE true crime!
Q. What is your FAVORITE APP?
A. iHeart Radio and Amazon, the two I use almost every day!
Q. Are you bingeing on any TV series? If so which ones?
A. Yes! Right now my favorites are Yellowjackets, Morning Show, Succession and the Dexter Reboot!
Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. Silence of the Lambs and Dead Poets Society
Q. Who is your FAVORITE Director?
A. M. Knight Shyamalan
Q. Who is your favorite sober celebrity?
A. Katey Sagal
Q. What/Who is your FAVORITE Band/composer/musical artist?
A. Sir Elton John
Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. So many, but Hamilton outweighs them all right now!
Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. US … New York City Europe … Interlaken, Switzerland
Q. What is your FAVORITE Museum?
A. MoMA
Q. What is your FAVORITE Restaurant?
A. Besides my dad’s restaurant which no longer exists … currently it’s B & B Butchers in Houston
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. Trust your instincts and don’t ever let anyone ever tell you that you can’t do something.
Q. What is the best piece of advice YOU’VE given? A. Life is too short to waste one minute on people who don’t value you.
Q. What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
A. I moved to New York City from Salem, Oregon by myself to pursue my modeling career when I graduated High School.
Q. What is your biggest regret?
A. That growing up I did not fully appreciate my European upbringing and all the rich culture that I was exposed to.
Q. Have you ever been arrested and if so, for what?
A. No
Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. Becoming a mom and producing two amazing humans!