We had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Christine Silverstein on The Relatable Voice Podcast, diving into her remarkable journey of resilience, purpose, and personal transformation. Her latest book, Wrestling Through Adversity, is now available.
Hello Dr.Christine, welcome to BrandEducation! Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello! I am a Peak Performance Coach, Behavioral Health RN, and Hypnosis Specialist. I opened the doors to my private practice, The Summit Center for Ideal Performance, 30 years ago. It is now located in Oakland, NJ, where I offer both in-person and online sessions.
At my center, I assist clients of all ages—from nursery school to nursing home—in achieving their best performance in health and wellness, athletics, academics, business, and the performing arts. My specialty is working with children, teens, and young adults, helping them harness the power of their minds and optimize their incredible brains.
I use approaches rooted in whole-brain integration, such as Mindful Toughness® skill sets, which focus on strengthening neural pathways through self-hypnosis, controlled breathing, mental rehearsal, positive self-talk, and performance-based feedback loops. These are not simply psychological tools—they are neuro-regulatory strategies that help stabilize attention, reduce stress reactivity, and reinforce adaptive neural patterns over time.
In addition to my clinical work, I am the author of the award-winning book Wrestling Through Adversity: Empowering Children, Teens, & Young Adults to Win in Life.
Where are you from, and where do you currently live?
I was born and raised by the sea in the small coastal town of Far Rockaway, in the borough of Queens, New York City. There, on the Rockaway Peninsula, I attended St. Mary Star of the Sea Elementary School and Stella Maris High School.
Currently, I live in Riverdale, New Jersey, about 30 miles from New York City.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy combining business with pleasure by traveling the world as a public speaker, historian, and peak performance coach. I love immersive experiences in places I’ve never visited before.
I have presented my work in Rome, Helsinki, and across the U.S., including Kona (Hawaii), St. Louis (Missouri), and Los Angeles (California). I’ve also delivered speeches and keynote addresses at universities such as Sciences Po in Paris, the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, and NYU, Columbia University, and Fordham University.
Can you share a bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today?
My journey began at age 15, when I witnessed a friend having an epileptic seizure in the middle of the street near a candy store we frequented. I wanted to help but didn’t know how.
My mother had nearly died at 15 from a ruptured appendix, at a time when antibiotics were unavailable. She had always aspired to become a nurse but never had the opportunity, so she encouraged me—her fourth daughter—to pursue nursing.
During my entrance interview at a nursing school in Brooklyn, the director noticed I had just turned 16 and questioned my age. She explained that students typically had to be 18. After a brief pause, I replied, “I think I am smart.” Combined with my strong science scores and aptitude, I was accepted and became the youngest student in my class.
I graduated as an RN at 19, and by 22, I was managing a 38-bed medical-surgical unit. While pursuing my bachelor’s degree, I met my husband. Later, while working with the Visiting Nurse Service in the South Bronx, I attempted to start a family but experienced four miscarriages.
A doctor labeled me a “habitual aborter” and told me I would never hold my own baby. He prescribed DES (diethylstilbestrol), but knowing its risks, I refused it. Instead, I developed what I call an “Expectant Mind” and began studying Transcendental Meditation and self-hypnosis.
Six months later, I gave birth to my first child, followed by three more. This experience later became the foundation of my fertility coaching program, Metamorphosis.
As my children grew into teenagers and faced challenges, I sought professional help but found little support. One psychologist even suggested I needed therapy. Instead, I trained in peak performance coaching and hypnosis, developing the foundations of what would become my Mindful Toughness® methodology.
In 1996, I opened my private practice and expanded my work to include athletes, performers, and entire teams.
If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Reflective, goal-oriented, and compassionate.
What inspires you in your work?
It’s not what inspires me—it’s who inspires me. My clients, who show courage, resilience, and commitment to growth, are the true source of inspiration.
One example is a 9-year-old girl I worked with who struggled with disordered eating. Through determination, she transformed her life—excelling academically and later pursuing studies to help others. Stories like hers remind me why this work matters.
Share something that our audience might not know about you.
At age 10, I entered a New York City roller-skating competition without telling my parents. Placed in the “Mite” category, I rebranded myself as “Mighty Mouse,” visualized winning, and trained myself.
I won first place in Queens and placed in the NYC championship. That “Mighty Mouse” mindset has stayed with me ever since.
How did you get started in writing?
My writing journey began academically, but I never saw myself as a writer.
That changed when I wrote a letter to my father during his illness. He was deeply moved and asked me to promise that I would become an author—a dream he never fulfilled.
Years later, after a near-drowning experience, I felt compelled to keep that promise. Shortly afterward, I began writing my book.
What inspired your book?
The book was inspired by global and societal challenges—war, COVID-19, rising mental health issues—and my 25+ years of experience working with young people.
It serves as a call to action, offering practical tools to build resilience using Mindful Toughness® strategies.
Are you working on any new projects?
Yes, I am developing courses to help individuals apply Mindful Toughness® in everyday life—from performance enhancement to healing and goal achievement.
What are your goals moving forward?
My goal is to inspire a shift in how we approach mental health—empowering individuals and communities to take an active role in building resilience and well-being.
Where can our listeners connect with you?
drchristinesilverstein.com
idealperformance.net
Listen to Dr.Christine at: