Philosophy

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The Living Center began as a cooperative of psychotherapists working with people in the arts. Later it broadened its outreach to include all people who want to enhance their creativity. The foundation of its philosophy rests on the original principles laid down by Sigmund Freud for psychoanalysts:

1. First, do no harm (and make sure you are in touch enough with your feelings to know the difference).

2. Stay neutral (and do not consciously or unconsciously espouse a bias).

3. Stay abstinent (and do not become involved with the patient in any way).

4. Maintain a blank screen (and do not bring yourself into the therapy unless it is absolutely necessary to further the treatment).

Psychoanalysis was the first profession that required its practitioners to undergo psychotherapy themselves. This was done because Freud realized that in order to follow the “Four Commandments” of psychoanalysis, one had to be self-aware. Awareness is essential to sound psychotherapy practice. However, although The Living Center is founded on psychoanalytic principles, we have expanded the psychotherapeutic repertoire to include other modalities, including gestalt therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, bioenergetics and meditation. We call this eclectic psychoanalysis.

Unfortunately, the trend today is for psychotherapists to do the opposite of what Freud advocated. Following the models set by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association, psychotherapist often approach therapy from one of two biases: a disease model that views genetics as responsible for most mental disorders, or a Marxist model that sees disorders as springing from cultural factors such as discrimination.

Many psychiatrists put little emphasis on the environment and for the most part treat patients by prescribing one or more medications. They appeal to the vast number of patients who don’t want to look at or understand the meaning of their behavior. Psychiatrists and psychotherapists who follow the psychiatric model offer the quick fix while fostering a socially approved form of addiction. This approach is superficial and only serves to prop up patients rather than truly healing them. To become truly healed, patients must be willing to explore the conflicts of thought, feeling and memories that cause them to have problems in the first place.

Marxist psychotherapists often “guide” patients toward some agreed upon, politically correct standard of conduct such as “cultural sensitivity.” Neither politics nor religion should have anything to do with psychotherapy or with psychology organizations. A professional organization, whether it is an organization of taxi drivers, engineers, or psychologists, should have but one purpose: to enhance the profession. Likewise, a psychotherapist should have but one purpose: to actualize a patient’s emotional health and well-being.

The objective of The Living Center is to be a haven for truth seeking and a place where individuals can seek their own individual truth without being judged. Freud and other pioneers of psychoanalysis were courageous seekers of the truth. They forged on, even if their truths were upsetting to people. It may upset an alcoholic if you tell him he has a drinking problem, but in the long run it will be immensely beneficial to him. This same principle applies to all people and to all disorders. People need the truth but it takes courage to tell them the truth, because people will label you as insensitive if you do so. We want to return to that original pioneering spirit.

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