Michael R. Mantell earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 after completing his M.S. degree in Clinical Psychology at the Hahnemann Medical College in 1972. After 45 years he retired as a clinical psychologist treating patients with clinical mental health disorders and has been enthusiastically and unwaveringly regenerating his career in the field of mental wellness as a highly sought-after psychological educator, behavioral sciences coach, international keynote speaker, organizational and leadership consultant, media spokesperson, and author of four bestselling books.
He’s been providing evidence-based, compassionate, dynamic rational emotive behavioral coaching anchored in his commitment to readily available service with an everlasting allegiance to excellence. He works in such a way as to deliver his caring approach as economically and efficiently as possible and is riveted on alleviating suffering and accelerating emotional independence.
Dr. Mantell served as Chief Psychologist for Children’s Hospital of San Diego as well as for the San Diego Police Department, as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD Medical School where he created the “Physician-Patient Relationship” course in the late 1970’s, a consultant to the FBI and the US Postal Service, and as Chief Behavioral Sciences Consultant for the American Council on Exercise, Equinox and Anytime Fitness gyms, among others. He has presented at fitness and health conferences around the globe.
He is member of SAG/AFTRA since 1981, dedicated to making psychology public and giving psychology away through the media in regular appearances on “Good Morning, America,” CBS, ABC, NBC and such shows as “Nightline” and Oprah Winfrey. He has recently been asked to serve as Chairman of the Election Committee for the 2023 SAG/AFTRA San Diego Chapter elections.
He is focused on physician wellbeing and burnout prevention, and has developed and leads a yearly, three-day intensive program on Physician Wellness for the American Society of Hematology, where he also provides a twice monthly presentation in his “Optimal Living Series.” He has presented at the Canadian Orthopedic Association and the End Physician Burnout Global Summit. He’s been co-founder and Chief Behavioral Science Officer of Plus-Size Certified and is a member of the Science Advisory Board of the International Council on Active Aging, as well as the Educational Advisory Board of the Medical Fitness Network and an Advisor to the Medical Wellness Association. He has created the physician wellbeing program, “The LifeSpace Group,” is launching a weekly podcast with a cardiologist called, “Health Above All,” is co-creating a certification program with the John W. Brick Foundation on mental health and fitness and has been invited to deliver a keynote presentation at the upcoming Philippine College of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (PCHTM) on physician wellbeing. He has also been invited to present at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans Conference in Canada on Violence in the Workplace. Dr. Mantell is a regular presenter for Vi La Jolla on ageism and healthspan behavior and longevity aimed at those living in continued care retirement communities. Dr. Mantell has been invited to serve as a member of the True Health Initiative Council, a group of world-renowned health experts, committed to cutting through the noise and educating on only the evidence-based, time-honored and proven pillars of lifestyle as medicine.
Dr. Mantell has been named to Greatist.Com’s “100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness,” and authored nearly 80 columns on mental performance for Arianna Huffington’s “Thrive Global.” He is the author of four books, including the 1988 best-selling, “Don’t’ Sweat the Small Stuff PS: It’s All Small Stuff,” “Ticking Bombs: Defusing Violence in the Workplace,” and “The Link is What You Think,” in addition to the 25th anniversary edition of his first book.
His long career has led to his becoming an international authority on helping people disturb themselves less and find lasting change, contentment, and a more awakened, successfully optimized life as they move past unhealthy negative emotions like anxiety, stress, depression, and burnout with his short-term, powerful, and action-oriented approaches towards greater life satisfaction.
He believes, “The link is what you think,” and that his clients thrive when they are encouraged to think for themselves, learning how to use the responsibility they have for creating their emotions and behaviors to make healthier choices throughout life.