Verified by Psychology Today

Loren A. Olson M.D.

About

Loren A. Olson, MD, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and an award-winning author.

Dr. Olson's most recent book, No More Neckties: A Memoir in Essays, won the IPPY Silver Award for Best LGBT Non-Fiction (2022). It was also a finalist for Indie Book of the Year in the same category (2022). Finally Out: Letting Go of Living Straight won the Ben Franklin Gold Award for Best LGBT Non-Fiction (2018).

Readers of his posts on Psychology Today have viewed his essays over 1.6 million times.

Dr. Olson focused his psychiatric career on those suffering with the most challenging mental illnesses. He received the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He is also a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Olson has presented at the World Congress of Psychiatry in Prague; Gay Fathers Worldwide in Sydney, Australia; and throughout the United States and Canada. He has been featured on national television, radio, podcasts, and television.

Dr. Olson was born in Nebraska, and as former Nebraska senator Bob Kerry said, “Do you think anyone in his right mind would choose to be gay in Nebraska?” He left to become a Flight Surgeon in the U.S. Navy.

After 18 years of marriage to his wife, Lynn, he came out as gay, although he prefers to think of it as finally letting people in.

Dr. Olson has been with his husband, Doug, for 38 years. Their grandchildren think of Doug as a bonus grandpa. Lynn and Doug often cook holiday dinners for their modern family.

Until their recent retirement to Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Olson and Doug lived on a farm near the Bridges of Madison County where they raised grass-fed, Belted Galloway cattle. For two years, they lived in the barn during the renovation of their circa 1900 farmhouse.

Dr. Olson blogs regularly for Psychology Today as well as on his website, NoMoreNecktiesBook.com. Sign up on his website and receive his tip sheet, "Male Sexuality across the Lifespan."

Books by Loren A. Olson M.D.
Recent Posts
Caring for a Person With Depression
Each of us has limited capacity to care for another. We knew the relationship was for better or worse, but the tenacity of depression means the imbalance may last too long.
What You Should Know About Treating Your Depression

Treating clinical depression requires skill, the art of medicine, and luck. Patients must be part of the treatment team. Depression can’t be cured, but it can be managed.

Treating clinical depression requires skill, the art of medicine, and luck. Patients must be part of the treatment team. Depression can’t be cured, but it can be managed.

Have I Grieved Too Long?

Chronic grief disorder is characterized by an endless loop of intense longing, sorrow, and difficulty accepting a death. It becomes the focus of the life of the bereaved.

Chronic grief disorder is characterized by an endless loop of intense longing, sorrow, and difficulty accepting a death. It becomes the focus of the life of the bereaved.

The Fundamental Unpredictability of Suicide

Although we can assess suicide risk, we cannot predict whether any individual will die by suicide. Often, those who are considering suicide don't share their intent.

Although we can assess suicide risk, we cannot predict whether any individual will die by suicide. Often, those who are considering suicide don't share their intent.

Married, Gay, and Coming Out

Coming out is a process of developing a new sexual identity. For those leaving a heterosexual marriage, it is a period of excitement, exploration, and often depression.

Coming out is a process of developing a new sexual identity. For those leaving a heterosexual marriage, it is a period of excitement, exploration, and often depression.

Circumcision: Whose Choice Is It?

Will delaying an irreversible, elective surgical procedure with limited proven benefits cause harm?

Will delaying an irreversible, elective surgical procedure with limited proven benefits cause harm?

You Don’t Need to Tell Me I’m Fat

A Personal Perspective: Big people are judged to be lazy, unmotivated, and undisciplined, but dieting can lead to changes in mood. After losing weight, some people still feel unattractive.

A Personal Perspective: Big people are judged to be lazy, unmotivated, and undisciplined, but dieting can lead to changes in mood. After losing weight, some people still feel unattractive.