About Susan
Susan McFarland has a lifetime of experience working with people in education, business, parenting and the healthcare fields. With an MA in counseling with LPC MI licensure, Susan spent many years as a high school guidance counselor working with both teenagers and parents. Her experience ranges from working with at-risk students, substance abuse prevention and self-esteem work with teen girls, to coordinating a testing program and consulting with the Michigan State Department on gender equity in education.
In 1994, Susan began a full time speaking business, facilitating workshops for women and for parent groups and began presenting at conferences and professional association meetings. Over the years, Susan has had the opportunity to gain diversified experience in educational settings and in venues from non-profit to major corporations. She has presented keynote addresses for professional organizations and state and national associations, and was a member of the National Speakers Association for many years.
Susan has produced teaching materials on Dealing with Difficult People and Credibility, Confidence and Personal Power. She authored a parent/teacher handbook entitled Girls: Math, Science and Technology: Striving for Self Esteem and Equity. Susan also produced a mini-book entitled What Men Really Know and Understand About Women.
Susan lives with her husband Sam, in Grand Rapids, Michigan and they have four grown children and three granddaughters. They have hosted exchange students from Korea, Spain, and Austria. Susan is acutely aware of, and experienced with, parenting and adoptive issues. Three of her children were adopted from Korea as infants. Susan has worked with thousands of parents over the years, facilitating support groups and parent groups for AFSN, Adoptive Family Support Network (www.afsn.org) and for FFIC, Families for Adoptive Children (www.fficgr.org). Susan also has extensive experience working with women and girls in the areas of self esteem, body image, stress management, and self empowerment. She now devotes her time to teaching and working with women of all ages who are interested in the process of personal growth and development.
Interests include: a deep appreciation of nature, photography, yoga, NPR, reading, Buddhism, teaching, rock collecting, psychology, bird watching, vintage clothing and antique shopping, film festivals, diversity issues, world music, travel, and time with family and friends.