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Diana Raab Ph.D.

About

Diana Raab, Ph.D., is an expert in helping others transform and become empowered through creativity, especially writing. She is a memoirist, poet, blogger, and speaker who facilitates nationwide workshops in writing for healing and transformation.

Her books Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life, and Writing for Bliss: A Companion Journal were born out of her Ph.D. dissertation on the transformative powers of memoir writing. She's also the author of two memoirs, Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal, and Healing With Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey; six collections of poetry, including her latest one, An Imaginary Affair: Poems Whispered to Neruda. She's editor of two anthologies, Writers and Their Notebooks and Writers on the Edge. Her nonfiction and poetry has been published and anthologized worldwide.

A Brooklyn native, Diana Raab discovered the healing power of writing, when at the age of 10, her mother gave her a Kahlil Gibran journal to help her cope with her grandmother’s suicide. Diana began her career as a registered nurse and worked as a medical writer for over 25 years. In 2001 after a breast cancer diagnosis, she combined her medical healing work and her journal writing in a self-help memoir, Healing With Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey.

Diana holds a degree in Journalism and Health Administration from Cortland State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University. She earned a Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in transpersonal psychology from The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (a.k.a. Sofia University).

Diana Raab is a trustee at The University California Santa Barbara. She's a fellow in the UCSB Creative Writing Program, and has taught workshops nationwide at such places such as The Open Center, 1440 Multiuniversity, Hugo House, Daily OM and annually at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference.The proud mother of three amazingly amazing, empowered, and creative children, and six grandchildren, Diana currently resides in Southern California.

Books by Diana Raab Ph.D.
Recent Posts
How to Write a Love Letter and Poem

Have you always wanted to write a love letter or love poem but haven't known how to start? This post will kick-start your creative endeavor.

Have you always wanted to write a love letter or love poem but haven't known how to start? This post will kick-start your creative endeavor.

5 Ways to Reflect on 2022

Do you feel life rushing by and you don't have time to think about all the experiences of the past year? You might want to consider reflective writing to move you into 2023.

Do you feel life rushing by and you don't have time to think about all the experiences of the past year? You might want to consider reflective writing to move you into 2023.

Dealing With Grief During the Holidays

Have you found that things are bittersweet for you during the holidays? You might be happy about the holidays, but they remind you of loved ones gone. Here are some coping tips.

Have you found that things are bittersweet for you during the holidays? You might be happy about the holidays, but they remind you of loved ones gone. Here are some coping tips.

How Practicing Gratitude Can Lead to Happiness

Do you wonder why some people seem happier than others? Sometimes it has nothing to do with their lot in life. It might have to do with their sense of gratitude.

Do you wonder why some people seem happier than others? Sometimes it has nothing to do with their lot in life. It might have to do with their sense of gratitude.

6 Important Reasons to Read

From an early age, you might have been told to read more. Did you ever wonder about the benefits? Studies show reading contributes to well-being across the lifespan.

From an early age, you might have been told to read more. Did you ever wonder about the benefits? Studies show reading contributes to well-being across the lifespan.

14 Self-Care Rituals to Practice Now

Are you missing summers where you spent time nurturing yourself? Maybe now is the time to bring self-care and self-compassion back into your life.

Are you missing summers where you spent time nurturing yourself? Maybe now is the time to bring self-care and self-compassion back into your life.