Barbara De Angelis

Barbara De Angelis – Life, Career & Influence

Learn about Barbara De Angelis (born March 4, 1951) — American writer, relationship expert, motivational speaker, and author of multiple bestsellers. Explore her biography, major works, and lasting lessons.

Introduction

Barbara De Angelis (born March 4, 1951) is an American relationship consultant, personal growth author, lecturer, and media personality.

Early Life & Background

Barbara De Angelis was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Little is widely documented about her childhood beyond her early interest in human relationships and spiritual awareness. As she matured, she developed her path in communication, growth, and transformation.

Education & Credentials

Barbara De Angelis holds a PhD in Psychology from Columbia Pacific University, an institution which operated as a correspondence, non-accredited university (now defunct).

Her professional identity is more rooted in lived experience, personal growth work, teaching, and media engagement rather than traditional academic scholarship.

Career & Public Work

Writing & Bestsellers

Barbara De Angelis has authored fourteen to sixteen books (depending on source) that have been translated into many languages and sold millions of copies. Some of her most widely known titles include:

• How to Make Love All the Time

• Secrets About Men Every Woman Should Know

• Are You the One for Me?

• Real Moments

• Ask Barbara: The 100 Most-Asked Questions About Love, Sex and Relationships

• The Real Rules

• Soul Shifts (one of her later works)

• How Did I Get Here?

Her writing blends practical guidance, self-help, spiritual insight, and relational wisdom.

Media & Public Presence

De Angelis’s reach extends beyond books:

• Her infomercial “Making Love Work” (1994) won an award as Best Infomercial.

• She hosted a short-lived talk show on CBS in early 1991.

• She appeared regularly on CNN as a “relationship expert” for two years.

• She has been a guest on major television programs, including Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, etc.

• She founded the Los Angeles Personal Growth Center and is (or was) president of Shakti Communications, Inc.

These platforms helped spread her ideas in relationships, self-help, spiritual growth, and personal transformation.

Philosophy, Themes & Style

Barbara De Angelis’s work is characterized by:

• Relationship focus: Many of her books and teachings revolve around love, partnership, intimacy, compatibility, and relational awareness.

• Personal transformation: She emphasizes that deep change comes from inner work, shifting identity, and awakening the self—not just changing external behavior.

• Spiritual perspective: Her lessons often integrate spiritual themes, calling people to look beyond the material, ask sacred questions (e.g. “What am I here for?”), and awaken inner purpose.

• Accessibility and practicality: She uses common language, real-life examples, and actionable steps to reach broad audiences.

• Narrative & persona: She frames her work using storytelling, vulnerability, and personal testimony. This style makes it approachable rather than overly academic.

Personal Life & Relationships

Barbara De Angelis has had several marriages. As of mid-1990s reports, she had been married five times. Two of her better-known spouses include:

• Doug Henning, the magician

• John Gray, author (they both allegedly received their PhDs from Columbia Pacific University)

Her career and personal narrative often intersect: her relational experience underpins much of her teaching on love, growth, and healing.

She lives (or has lived) in Los Angeles / Santa Barbara, California.

Notable Quotes

Here are a few quotes attributed to Barbara De Angelis that illustrate her voice:

• “All answers are inside, but the soul needs to be woken and reminded of them.”

• “There is a shift from being a seeker to being a seer.”

• “The number one misunderstanding people make is thinking there’s something wrong with them that needs fixing.”

• “I call this shift from being a seeker to a seer. We’re not really seeking something, we’re trying to have a remembrance, a return.”

These lines display her emphasis on inner insight, self-awareness, and transformation.

Legacy, Impact & Critiques

Influence & Reach

• Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide and been translated into dozens of languages.

• She has had #1 New York Times bestsellers, such as Real Moments, Secrets About Men Every Woman Should Know, Are You the One for Me? and Chicken Soup for the Couples Soul.

• Through seminars, media appearances, and coaching programs, she has influenced many in the personal development and relationship space.

Critiques & Controversies

• Her academic credentials have been questioned, given the non-accredited status of her PhD institution.

• Some critics view her work as part of the “self-help industry,” with general advice rather than deeply rigorous scholarship.

• Because much of her teaching is experiential and spiritual, skeptics may regard some concepts as subjective or unverifiable.

Despite criticisms, many find value in her compassionate approach, inspirational voice, and emphasis on inner work.

Lessons from Barbara De Angelis

From her life and work, readers and followers might take away:

1. Transformation begins within
   True change often comes from shifting beliefs, identity, and awareness—not just altering external behaviors.

2. Relationships are mirrors
   Our closest connections can show us our hidden fears, patterns, and opportunities for growth.

3. Awakening is a process
   Spiritual or personal awakening often happens in stages—“cosmic alarm clocks,” as she notes—and requires patience.

4. Serve first, succeed second
   She often emphasizes that meaningful work comes from service, not ego or fame.

5. Your story is part of your teaching
   She uses vulnerability and testimony to connect; your own life experience can amplify your message, if handled honestly.