Psycho"therapy" and The Stories We Live By

Psycho"therapy" and the Stories We Live By is a professional autobiography tracing the author's journey as a Professor of Psychology and Psychotherapist from 1969 until his retirement in 2018. Arguing that human beings must be politicians in order to solve the inevitable conflicts of living with other human beings, and that the politics of relationships can be described as either authoritarian or democratic in nature, it explores psychotherapy as a process of helping those who are suffering change the narratives by which they live.

This book is aimed at a general reader who is committed to living as a citizen in a democracy as well as any individuals concerned that psychiatry controlled by Big Pharma is or has hurt their lives more than it has helped.The book argues that the term "mental illness" is an unscientific authoritarian moral judgement of problems in living that prevents real understanding of the emotional pain of those seeking professional help. It goes on to describe the author's concept of psycho"therapy" as a democratic relationship free of medical jargon that helps suffering individuals understand and change the narratives by which they live. The volume is composed of six chapters, including an "Introduction," "Philosophical Issues," "The Politics of Human Relationships," "Mental Illnesses," "Mental Health," "Education," and "Psycho"therapy."

Laurence Simon received his B.A. from City College of New York in 1962 and his Ph.D. from New York University in 1969. He is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Kingsborough Community College, City University of New York. He was Chief Psychologist at Flushing Hospital Mental Health Clinic and maintained a private practice on Long Island, New York. Dr. Simon is the author of "Cognition and Affect: A Developmental Psychology of the Individual," Prometheus Books (1986); "Psycho'therapy': Theory, Practice, Modern and Postmodern Influences" Praeger Publishers. (1998); "Psychology, Education, Gods and Humanity" Praeger Publishers. (1998) and "Psychology, Psychotherapy, Psychoanalysis and the Politics of Human Relationships" Praeger Publishers. (2003). Dr Simon was co-editor of the journal "Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry" from 2005 - 2007.