Meet Angela Crawford, Ph.D. | Psychologist, Author, and Vegan Lifestyle Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Crawford, Ph.D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, what principle do you value most?
The value that most strongly guides my life is compassion – expanding my circle of compassion to include myself, others, all sentient beings, and our planet. This compassion is grounded in other core values such as integrity and honoring my inner knowing to guide decisions and actions.

Compassion guided my decision to become a clinical psychologist and to empower others’ healing journeys. It guided me to become vegetarian and then later vegan, when I realized the cruelty and suffering inherent in animal agriculture. It led me to be more aware of social justice issues and the destruction of our environment – and to want to make more compassionate choices for the flourishing of all.

As humans, we are biologically wired for compassion, but many of us have learned to compartmentalize our compassion – often extending it only to select races, types of people, or species of animals. We have compassion for people who are “like us,” but often exclude those who are from different cultures or who hold different views. And when it comes to animals, most of us love our companion animals, such as dogs and cats, but turn a blind eye to the animals who are part of our food system (pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, and sea creatures) or who are used in research or other industries.

Compassion is a guiding principle of most spiritual, religious, and ethical systems. It literally means “to suffer together.” It is the empathic awareness of others’ distress or suffering, along with a desire to alleviate that suffering. From early times, great thinkers, philosophers, and teachers have advocated the importance of compassion for all beings to create a more humane, peaceful, and healthy society – leaders such as Pythagoras, Leonardo DaVinci, Leo Tolstoy, Albert Einstein, and Gandhi.

To be compassionate is not only good for others and our society, it is healthy for us on a personal level. Research finds that it is associated with better physical and emotional well-being, better relationships, and improved social and emotional skills. Those of us who are empaths may sometimes fear that connecting with our compassion will overwhelm us – especially when there is so much suffering in our world. It is important to include ourselves in our circle of care and compassion. This brings a grounded well-being and mindful presence from which to extend our kindness and support.

While we don’t have the power individually to solve the vast problems in our world, by connecting with our compassion, and joining forces with others who share our concerns, together we can make a difference. In my view, awakening and cultivating our collective compassion is paramount for healing our divisions and the many challenging issues of our time.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am in the midst of a business transition. My past work entailed working as a psychotherapist for 25 years, empowering clients to address and heal trauma, stress, anxiety, grief, and other psychological issues. This work was deeply meaningful – and at times, emotionally intense. For a variety of reasons, I made the decision to wind down my psychotherapy practice this past year. This was a process that took place over a period of time. It was not an easy decision, as I felt very connected and committed to my clients, and this work was a big part of my identity and financial stability. However, I felt called to make this transition. I am now bringing my psychology training and experience into new roles as vegan lifestyle educator, author, and mentor.

I’ve long held a dream to write a book, and this is now coming into reality. I just sent my book manuscript off to my publisher. My book, the culmination of three years of research, is about the transformative impact of a vegan lifestyle for healing mind, body, spirit, and the planet. Based on surveys and interviews with vegans, as well as the larger research literature, I share the psychological, spiritual, and physical benefits of living a compassionate vegan lifestyle. The book covers themes such as aligning our behaviors with our values, extending compassion to all beings, connecting with meaning and purpose, and taking charge of our health. It includes experiential exercise to apply these transformational principles in our own lives. It is due to be published in 2025.

Other aspects of my work include creating courses and programs to support people to thrive emotionally and physically with a plant-based lifestyle. I’m in the process of co-creating a course that guides people in the transition to a plant-powered, vegan lifestyle. I also offer programs to guide vegans to thrive emotionally and to find their authentic voice and purpose. In addition, I write a blog and speak about these topics.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Binghamton, NY (which is a few hours from NYC and an hour from the Finger Lakes). As a vegan, I’d want to choose restaurants that have delicious plant-based options. Some favorites include Parlor City Vegan, The Grapevine Cafe, and the Lost Dog.

Beyond that, I’d want to take them to the Finger Lakes. Ithaca and Watkins Glen are both great places to visit, with beautiful lake views, gorges trails to hike, charming places to eat, and cute shops. The trails along the gorges are absolutely gorgeous! And there are many wonderful wineries and breweries to visit, where we could enjoy a drink and meal while overlooking the lake.

I also love to go to Farm Sanctuary, near Watkins Glen, which is a beautifully situated sanctuary for rescued farm animals. They offer tours where you can meet and interact with the animals.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Two leaders who have influenced my journey these past 5-7 years:

Claire Zammit, Ph.D. – Leader of Feminine Power and Institute for Women-Centered Coaching
My training in transformational coaching and leadership through Feminine Power guided me to trust and follow my own inner guidance more fully – and to take risks that led me to be more true to myself and to live my authentic purpose. It helped me step out of old stories and have the courage to live and serve in a more empowered and aligned way.

Victoria Moran – Leader of Main Street Vegan Academy
Attending Main Street Vegan Academy and connecting with Victoria (and many other inspiring teachers and leaders) was truly transformational. Victoria is a role model for me – she not only teaches, but lives and embodies her deepest values, all in service of creating a more compassionate and healthy world.

There are many others who have supported me – my husband, friends and family, colleagues, and other teachers.

Website: https://angelacrawfordphd.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelacrawfordphd/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVeganTransformation

Image Credits
The first photograph: Heather Esposito Photography The last four photographs: taken by me (Angela Crawford)