Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site hao.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!woods From: woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: self-actualization Message-ID: <1680@hao.UUCP> Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 15:22:49 EDT Article-I.D.: hao.1680 Posted: Wed Aug 7 15:22:49 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 10-Aug-85 22:26:52 EDT References: <1744@reed.UUCP> <621@ttidcc.UUCP> Organization: High Altitude Obs./NCAR, Boulder CO Lines: 47 > Those who know me will tell you that I'm apt to go into a half-hour > diatribe/lecture on the evils of amateur psychology at the drop of a > cliche'. The above is a good example of why. There are a huge number of > fools out there who think that because they've read a few popular books or > been through therapy themselves they are ipso facto qualified to perform > therapy on others. Ann's story is only too typical of the wreckage they > leave behind. I'm inclined to agree with what this says directly, but NOT with some of the implications. I agree persons who are not qualified should not be giving psychotherapy. But, what you are calling "amateur psychology", by which I assume you are referring to things like Lifespring, EST and other awareness or personal growth training courses, IS NOT THERAPY NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE OR TO REPLACE THERAPY. The rest of this is applicable only to Lifespring, since I have been through that particular course, but it may well apply to EST and programs such as the one Ann had a bad experience with. In order to do the Lifespring training, you have to sign a statement saying that you are aware that the Lifespring course is NOT psychotherapy nor is it intended to replace the same. In fact, if you are currently in or have been in therapy within the last 6 months, you have to have a therapist's signature on the registration form. The Lifespring course, and other awareness training courses, are designed for people whose lives basically work, but somehow know they could have it better than they do, *NOT* for people whose lives are a total mess that need therapy. The "wreckage" you speak of is often caused by people who really need therapy going into an awareness training course. I'm not claiming this is true in Ann's case, because I don't have all the facts, but it sure sounds like it on the surface. People who go into an awareness training or encounter weekend expecting therapy are bound to be disappointed or even damaged. It may also be true that some of the awareness training people don't make as big a deal of pointing out that it is *not* therapy as Lifespring does. But you really shouldn't make blanket generalizations about "amateur psycholgy". I, and several people I know, have gotten a *great deal* of benefit out of awareness training courses. All *you* are qualified to say is that it isn't therapy (I agree), that those who give those courses are not trained psychologists (they do not claim to be), and that you don't see any value in it for *you* (nothing wrong with that, either). I am a living counterexample to a blanket condemnation of awareness trainings. --Greg -- {ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!noao | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!noao} !hao!woods CSNET: woods@NCAR ARPA: woods%ncar@CSNET-RELAY "Comes a time, when a blind man takes your hand, says don't you see..."