Dr. Gary Zomalt: The basics of organizational restoration

Restoring an old, rundown organization is a very tall order in itself. Bringing it to the top tier is another. Dr. Gary Zomalt, a psychotherapist with a penchant for management, managed to achieve both in the Fresno County Department of Children and Family Services during his tenure as the organization’s Executive Director from 2001 to 2006.

Dr. Gary Zomalt Photo credit: Fresno CFS

Dr. Zomalt approached the problems systematically, focusing on means with which to cut the expenditures without damaging the organization’s growth. He did so by outsourcing them to external government and nonprofit organizations while at the same time finding new revenue sources. In doing so, he was able to solve the department’s budgetary crisis which would have led to the termination of 100 social workers.

From Gary Zomalt

At the same time, Dr. Gary Zomalt improved the department’s organizational structure by recruiting a new executive team and working closely with local government institutions. The department was not only able to expand but also swiftly adopt national best practices, helping improve its service quality.


His efforts have had dramatic results. He was not only able to cut expenses without harming the department’s functions but also improving them, turning an underperforming department on the threat of financial collapse into a top-performing organization.

Dr. Gary ZomaltPhoto credit: Fresno CFS

Under Dr. Gary Zomalt, the Department was able to fix its problems without resorting to layoffs and, in effect, manage to reach national standards. More information on Dr. Zomalt’s career and accomplishments is available through his Facebook page.

Dr. Gary Zomalt: The benefits of positive emotional granularity

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health, and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

–Joseph Addison

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: NatalyaKorotkova

Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt state that optimism is directly proportional to stable health. Studies have revealed that positive emotions serve a buffering function and provide an effective antidote to the stresses associated with negative emotions and poor health.


Positive emotional granularity or the tendency to represent experiences of positive emotion with precision and specificity is one good measure to determine the physical and psychological health of an individual. Highly “granular” individuals have the ability to set aside negative emotions and can manage their problems effectively. Individuals with “less granularity,” on the other hand, can hardly express positive emotions when distressful events wreak havoc in their lives. They tend to exude unhealthy responses and are therefore prone to depression, heart disorders, and anxiety, among other conditions.

Gary Zomalt Photo Credit: Smart Recovery

Psychotherapists like Dr. Gary Zomalt believe that individuals with higher positive emotional granularity consider problems as manageable rather than stressful, and are more likely to develop coping mechanisms thoroughly rather than respond impulsively. Hence, they tend to have a more stable health because they are able to use their personal resources efficiently.


Accommodating positive emotions amid adversity could provide the much needed psychological rest an individual has to acquire in replenishing and restoring further coping efforts.

From Gary Zomalt

For more information about Dr. Gary Zomalt, visit his Facebook page.