Susan Forward
Susan Forward | |
|---|---|
| Died | 2020 |
| Occupation(s) | Clinical social worker, Author, Actress |
| Notable work | Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them, Toxic Parents |
Susan Forward was an American clinical social worker and best-selling author who coined the term "emotional blackmail".[1][2][3][4] Her book Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them was a #1 New York Times best seller, and spent 40 weeks on the list.[5][6] She appeared on many talk shows as a guest, including Oprah and The Today Show.[7]
Career
[edit]Earlier in her life, Forward was an actress who received a degree in theater arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.[8][9][10] She is reported to have appeared in 50 television shows, including Perry Mason, Bonanza, Quincy, M.E. and The Twilight Zone.[10] Acting was her childhood dream, but she abandoned it when she was 28.[3]
Forward received her postgraduate education at the University of Southern California where she received a master's degree in psychiatric social work and a PhD in psychology and became licensed as a clinical social worker.[11] Forward privately practiced for 24 years,[10] and ran over 15,000 therapy groups in this time.[3] She retired from her therapy practice in the late 1980s.[3] She also hosted an ABC Talk Radio show for 6 years.[12][10] In 1994, she hosted a 2-hour NBC special titled Best-Sellers: Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them: The Relationship.[10][9]
During divorce proceedings between O. J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson (who was later murdered), Mrs. Simpson paid Forward two visits for therapy. Forward later disclosed to the public (after the murder) that these visits had led her to believe that Mrs. Simpson had been abused. In 1994, a California regulatory body investigated whether Forward had violated confidentiality laws because of this disclosure. Forward had believed the disclosure was allowed, because of an incorrect belief that Mrs. Simpson's death voided her physician–patient privilege.[13][14] This led to her license being suspended for 3 months and being put on probation for 3 years.[4]
Personal life
[edit]Forward was married twice, and has characterized both marriages as bad.[3] She has characterized one husband as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' who verbally abused her; however, because she was in love with him, she found it difficult to leave the relationship.[10] When she was 15, Forward was sexually abused by her father. She spoke out about the effects of sexual abuse on victims.[3][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Susan Forward Ph.D." Psychology Today. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Johnson, R. Skip (16 August 2018). "Emotional Blackmail: Fear, Obligation and Guilt (FOG)". BPDFamily.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "SUSAN FORWARD". Orlando Sentinel. 25 April 1993. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Account of Therapy For Nicole Simpson Brings Suspension". The New York Times. 24 November 1995. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b c "Sexual Abuse Ramifications". Oprah.com. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Epstein, Robert (1 July 1993). "NBC Pioneering With Films in a New Nonfiction Frontier : Television: Susan Forward's best-selling book 'Men Who Hate Women' will make it to the small screen as a blend of drama, fact and talk show--a hybrid that is seen as the future". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Talk Shows". SusanForward.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Lawson, Carol (25 August 1986). "WOMEN, SUCCESS AND ROMANTIC ADVICE". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b Scott, Vernon (14 July 1994). "Susan Forward will host a two-hour NBC special Aug. 5". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Brennan, Patricia (30 July 1994). "HOW TO DEAL WITH ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Therapist". SusanForward.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "Susan Forward, Ph.D - Therapist, Best Selling Author". SusanForward.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Mydans, Seth (16 June 1994). "Lawyer for O. J. Simpson Quits Case". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 May 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Roan, Shari; Dolan, Maura (16 June 1994). "Therapist May Face Discipline for Discussing Case : Counseling: Social worker Susan Forward appears to have violated Nicole Simpson's privacy by revealing comments, an official for state examiners office says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
