Clinical Psychologist, Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System; Long Beach, CA
Children: Kyle, 5; Ryan, 3 ♦ Husband: Harold Hunter

Why We Love Her
Living with a disability has never stopped Linda from getting what she wants. In fact, it’s only inspired her to chase a goal all the more. As a clinical psychologist, an advocate for the disabled community and a guest speaker and presenter at American Psychological Association conferences, Linda has made it her mission to teach people about the power of optimism. Even her little ones know a thing or two about turning a potential obstacle into something positive. Her 3-year-old son, Ryan, tells us, “My mommy is the best because she sings to me and lets me ride on her wheelchair.”

Q: If you could ask your boss for one thing to help you better balance your work and family life, what would it be and why?

A: I am fortunate to have a supervisor who provides me a great deal of flexibility with my schedule. However, the one thing that I would request is the opportunity to work from home on occasion. Although most of my job involves providing psychotherapy to patients in a hospital setting, there are times that I would like to do some of my charting and paper work from home.

Q: What’s your best tip for keeping your home life running smoothly?

A: Begin to love the notion of interdependence. As a working disabled mom, I realized that I needed many people in our lives to assist us. I have developed and arranged a well-orchestrated team of people who assist me with family management. I have several babysitters, family members and friends who assist with daily tasks and activities and that helps keeps everything running smoothly. This level of assistance from others improves our quality of life in various ways. It allows me more play, talk and reading time with my kids.

Q: What does balance mean to you?

 A: Balance means feeling alive and having a sense of purpose in my family and work domains of life. And balance means having daily time with my family to discuss the day's events, play, laugh and feel whatever we want to feel together. We talk with regularity about what we are thankful for in life, which helps us all reconnect with the importance of family relationships.