Sue Varma
Psychiatrist and author
Dr. Sue Varma is a psychiatrist who worked with survivors of the 9/11 attacks. She wrote Practical Optimism, a program built on eight pillars.
1 summary 18 min of listening
About Sue Varma
Dr. Sue Varma was the founding medical director and an attending psychiatrist at the World Trade Center Mental Health Program. There she supported civilian and first-responder survivors after the 9/11 attacks. Working with patients, she saw people respond to stress and trauma in very different ways. This led her to ask how some people thrive despite major challenges. Drawing on her clinical work, philosophy, personal experience and research in psychology, psychiatry, medicine and neuroscience, she developed Practical Optimism. The program rests on eight pillars and aims to build a sense of meaning, mastery and self-acceptance.