My experience of grad school was peaceful, with hope for the future. I was in the clinical psychology program at Georgia State University back in the early sixties. My kids are surprised that I never heard of Bob Ross, but I heard a lot about Fritz Perls, Transactional Analysis, T-groups, guided imagery, empathy and Psychosynthesis. I remember one of my professors saying to me, “Thank you for the gift of your anger.”

The department treated us to experience with several kinds of therapy groups. We were blessed.

I recall taking an evening course for two semesters during which we lay on the floor in threes and each received a lengthy “tap over” from the other two, before switching. Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? Graduate school was one long centering experience. I remember feeling depressed the day I received my degree.

As I look around me today, it is as though it was all a dream. Where is centering, mirroring, empathy and respect for ourselves and others, our lovely planet besmirched and dirtied by destructively delusional and angry inhabitants? I had group and individual psychotherapy, and later when asked what I got out of it, I did not hesitate. “Love.”

–Unconditional positive regard, no matter what, and it did not result in an abusive personality. Au contraire!