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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
-- 
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       		        !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..."