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Michael J. Mahoney, University of North Texas
Self, Other, and Spirit: Boundaries of Being in Human Development

At individual, collective, and historical levels, human development involves boundaries. Boundaries are not only areas of separation, but also domains of connection. There must be exchange across boundaries to sustain life and development. Relationship is therefore essential to life as we know it, and certainly to psychological life. But relationship is seldom easy in open developing systems. As some spiritual traditions emphasize, relationship is the ultimate yoga of being human. For better and for worse, we develop out of the crucible of being in relationship. Psychotherapy often focuses on a client's relationship with self (including emotions, body, self-image, etc.) and relationships with significant others (past, present, and possible). In the course of their life development, many clients express interest in larger meanings and domains of connection that transcend local space and time. Recent shifts in the meaning of "spirituality" suggest central themes of values or virtues. The practice of professional life counseling should reflect a sensitive attunement to such themes. The spiritual aspects of being a practitioner are briefly highlighted.

Michael J. Mahoney earned his Ph.D. at Stanford University in 1972. He teaches at the University of North Texas and Saybrook Graduate School. Originally trained as a behavior therapist, his research and writing helped pioneer the cognitive revolution in psychology. He has published 15 books and more than 200 articles on topics ranging from health, exercise, and sports to emotionality, spirituality, and basic developmental processes in and beyond psychotherapy. His works have earned him international honors that include tributes from the American Psychological Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the World Academy of Art and Science. A world class athlete in Olympic weightlifting, he supports programs that encourage active embodiment throughout the lifespan. His current research focuses on psychological processes in personal and scientific revolutions, peak performance under stress, the lifespan development of career therapists, and spiritual dimensions of human development. A leader in the movement toward more constructive and holistic approaches to human experience, he currently edits the journal Constructivism in the Human Sciences. His most recent works are Human Change Processes (Basic Books, 1991), Cognitive and Constructive Psychotherapies (Springer, 1995), and Peak Performance (Lima-Associates.com, 2000).

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