Who are your thought leaders?
As many of you know, this summer I opened The Therapist’s Leadership Institute - an organization dedicated to raising the image of therapists and psychotherapy within our culture. I am really excited to begin this new venture and sure could use any ideas you might have on how we might do this. Feel free to visit http://TherapistsLeadershipInstitute.org to see what it is all about.
As I focus on the idea of leadership, I remember attending my first Evolution of Psychotherapy conference. As a new graduate student, my professors encouraged me to register.
At that event, I was able to sit at the feet of many of the leaders I had studied in school. Until that point I was unaware that the field of Family Therapy was relatively new.
I smile as I remember how full of wonder I was. I would listen to one clinician in the morning session. He or she would sound so brilliant and clear and had exactly the right theory and technique for my clients. Then, in the next session, the speaker would say the exact opposite of the first speaker. The afternoon speaker sounded just as brilliant and practical. It made my head spin.
It was a glorious event and I will forever be indebted to Jeff Zeig and his team for that event and all the ones that followed.
I absorbed everything I could from many leaders - including Carl Whitaker, Jay Haley and Albert Ellis. Those men taught me so much about the art and science of therapy. They made me laugh and they could also bring me to tears with their success stories. With their passing, these leaders have left a great hole on our field and in our hearts.
And yet new leaders are emerging every day - just as brilliant and just as touching.
I am curious. Whom do you consider as a current leader in the field of psychotherapy? Who touches your mind and heart? And why? I’d love to hear what you think.
May our minds be challenged and our hearts opened as we continue to grow, prosper and touch lives and hearts in this field that we love.
In your service,
Casey
I would call it "Multiple Streams of Income for Therapists" 
My vote would be "Multiple Streams of Therapy Income." But of the two choices, I prefer "revenue." 
Hi Kate!
You can use Typepad or Wordpress for blogging. We use Wordpress but Typepad is great too. For more info ...
Hi Casey,
I guess the "... 9 miles" is a goal happily achieved. Hooray! Congratulations!
Since I heard you speak in Phoenix ...
Interesting article. I found some more information here
Comment by dwight bain on 10 September 2008:
The great thinkers/writers/leaders in therapy today include;
Larry Crabb, PhD
John Eldredge, PhD
Dan Allender, PhD
Les Parrott, PhD
John Trend, PhD
David Stoop, PhD
Henry Cloud, PhD
John Townsend, PhD
Dr. Phil is an entertainer, not a therapist according to his website, which includes the disclaimer that what he offers is for entertainment only and not a substitute for real psychological, clinical or psychiatric care.
Comment by dwight bain on 10 September 2008:
sorry, my typo, that’s Dr. John TRENT, in Phoenix.
Comment by Jennifer Fee on 10 September 2008:
Hi Casey,
Christine Padesky touches my heart and challenges my mind. I’ve only met her once at a short seminar that she gave. Before the talk started, she walked around the room and met each participant (maybe 30-50 people). She was genuine, kind, and interested in where each person came from. How relational is that?!
Then, of course, she a master utilizing and teaching the CBT modality. This particular seminar was about treating personality disorders, and Christine inspired me to take a compassionate, less pathologically oriented view of people suffering from these disorders. As she explained, the behavior of people with personality disorders makes complete sense if you understand their conditional belief system!
I also think that Christine is an essential catalyst in the evolution of the CBT approach. For example, she has taken Epstein’s Anayltical Mind/Experiential self material and has beautifully applied it to CBT theory to explain how change can occur (that we use the rational mind to influence the experiential self). This is a brilliant step forward in helping to explain to the world that changes in belief system can occur at a very deep level.
I’m excited about your new project and I hope that you will get a chance to meet Christine Padesky for yourself if you haven’t!
Warmest Regards,
Jennifer Fee
Comment by Nichoel on 10 September 2008:
I consider John Gottman and Susan Johnson to be leaders in our field.
Comment by Roger Schwarz on 10 September 2008:
Three thought leaders come to mind whose collective contribution have changed the way I practice psychotherapy. They are Mary Main who created the Adult Attachment Interview, a tool for assessing attachment and the capacity to parent; also Daniel Siegel and Allen Shore, whose books and teaching help practitioners and patients “make sense” of senseless behavior and use their insight to change the way they experience the world and respond to it. Roger Schwarz, MFT, JD
Comment by Jennifer Klugman, LMFT on 10 September 2008:
Casey, what a fantastic idea and project. I know I immediately thought of Thomas Moore. He wrote “Care of the Soul”. I can’t say enough on his wisdom in dealing with our human hearts and minds. He’s published many articles in the areas of archetypal and Jungian psychology.
There are so many outstanding leaders presently, it would take more room to list them all. I think people we see as leaders are those who resonate with our style. Francine Shapiro is certainly a leader in her discovery of EMDR. She truly illuminated the neurophysiological connection and its use in psychotherapy. I’ll probably think of many more when it send this. Great idea Casey.
Comment by Patrick Hopper on 10 September 2008:
I have to cast my lot with those who continue to evolve the philosophies of Milton Erickson and Carl Rogers (and the more recently passed Insoo Kim Berg & Steve Deshazer). Among those I would count Hugh Gunnison, Bill O’Hanlon, Barry Duncan, Scott Miller, Michelle Weiner-Davis, Linda Metcalf, and many others. Having said that, when a more directive approach is called for, I love many of the techniques of those carrying on in the traditions of Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, including Aaron Beck himself, and Michael Edelstein, David Burns and Marsha Linehan.
Comment by Sadie on 10 September 2008:
Absolutely and without a doubt, Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick are true leaders in psychology and, as a result, in psychotherapy. Everyone should check out their university: http://www.UniversityofSantaMonica.edu.
Comment by Sherron Lewis on 11 September 2008:
One of my heroes is Dr. James Masterson. One practicum I completed strictly adhered to this model. It provided a solid framework for working with personality disorders, whether severe or mild.
I also really respect David Schnarch for his expertise in Couples work and Sexual dysfunctions.
Of course I will always admire the work of Carl Jung.. .dreams and symbolism, he put spirituality at a whole new level for me. I find myself interpreting dreams through the lens of that theory.
I could go on and on Melanie Klein, Virginia Satir and Kernberg,are among the few of my many heroes as well.
Comment by Alicia Padilla on 11 September 2008:
A hero of mine in the field of psychotherapy is Dr. George Nalbach, he is a professor at Pepperdine University’s Irvine graduate campus and teaches about substance abuse and techniques of therapy. He is a hero in the field because of his genuine care for both clients and students, his wonderfully, refreshing honesty, and because he is so donwn to earth. He has touched so many lives as a therapist and has helped to train, incoming therapists so they may change lives as well. Dr. Nalbach is also the director of Santa Anita Family Service in Arcadia, CA where he teaches MFT trainees to be excellent clinicians and his dedication to community mental health is contagious.
Comment by Peter Hamersma on 12 September 2008:
I would second Sherron Lewis’ thoughts on David Schnarch and also add William Doherty.
Comment by Carol Fishbein, Ph.D., C.E.D.S. on 28 September 2008:
There are several current names that I would recommend: Bill O’Hanlon, Judy and Aaron Beck, John Gottman and Robert Leahy. BTW, I also was at the Evolution of Psychotherapy conference when I was a graduate student. The experience was beyond belief. If you can replicate a symposium like that with some of the more recent leaders in the field, it would be remarkable. Please let me know if I can be of help.
Sincerely yours,
Carol
Comment by Judith Greer Essex on 1 October 2008:
People who have radically influenced the way I practice are Insoo Kim Berg, Paolo Knill, Stephen K. Levine, Harlene Anderson, John Gottman and James Hillman.
I have an arts- and philosophy-based practice, using their own images to help my client connect with their strengths and passions, and re-write their negative narrative. I use many other resources in the arts and philosophy, but these psychological practitioners stand out…could be many others if I took another minute!