Mark is a psychotherapist, an international speaker and a syndicated writer. He is a "Motivational Humorist" for The DC Improv Comedy Club as well as America Online's "Online Psychohumorist." Read more Mark Gorkin, LICSW, "The Stress Doc" ™, a psychotherapist, an international speaker and syndicated writer, is now a "Motivational Humorist" for The DC Improv Comedy Club as well as America Online's "Online Psychohumorist" ™. The Doc runs his weekly "Shrink Rap and Group Chat" on AOL/Digital City. His award-winning, USA Today Online "HotSite" www.stressdoc.com Was recently cited as a workplace resource in a National Public Radio feature on "Bad Bosses". Email for his monthly newsletter recently showcased on List-a-Day.com.

Q: How did you become the Stress Doc?

After burning out on a doctoral dissertation at Tulane U in New Orleans, I saw the silver lining...and became an expert on stress and burnout. I then had the absurd idea that I should break into radio and TV as a way of promoting myself. Well, in "The Big Easy" the strange is commonplace and various gigs on Cable and Public TV and drive time radio ensued. In fact, the editor of the major newspaper, The Times Picayune, after seeing one of my show videos dubbed me, "that mild mannered Stress Doc."

When there were no more mountains to climb in the bayou, I moved up to DC in 1990, invented the concept of "Shrink Rap" (TM), survived a stint as a Stress and Violence Prevention Consultant with the US Postal Service, moved into the Internet, eventually becoming AOL's "Online Psychohumorist" and helping clients practice "Safe Stress". And this week, the DC Improv Comedy Club will be marketing me as a speaker for their corporate/conference programming.

What clients are saying about Mark's "Safe Stress" programs:

"Thank you for your November presentation to the NJHR Planning Group. You did a tremendous job of blending theory and practical application to help HR and industry-related professionals work through the challenge of stress, anger and loss in today's persona; and professional environment. You successfully engaged the audience in creative exercises to surface an awareness of common pressures we all face on a daily basis, and then provided tools and techniques which can help us cope and channel our energy in a positive way. My suggestion to potential clients: Don't miss the opportunity for your "session" with the Stress Doc, and see how refreshing it can be to use humor to work through the pressures in your life!"

- Tracy Tyler, Board of Directors, New Jersey Human Resources Planning Group