Virginia Satir (1916–1988)

I read this awhile ago; I remember it being very brief, and sometimes I don’t have ideas about things, you know. But now Virginia’s idea of all the little people who live inside reminds me of Jung’s idea of ‘Personality No. 1’ and ‘Personality No. 2’, (the ordinary and the extraordinary), and also old Carl’s more famous idea of the anima and the animus, which I call the little girl who lives inside me, and the little man who lives inside girlie…. But I don’t say any of this by way of historical explanation, (which art it is possible to overrate), and hopefully you haven’t already grown tired of Carl the Famous Man. Though of course one day I shall be the Famous Man, and then you shall have no leave to grow tired of me, though the Famous Man shall be only one of my many faces.… (mer)

The author with Dr. Don Jackson and Dr. Jules Riskin formed the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California. Satir is a pioneer in the concept of family therapy for relatives of the mentally ill. At the time she developed these strategies they were innovative and unorthodox. Today they are in use worldwide. She has served as a consultant to numerous agencies in the United states and in Israel, Venezuela, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Germany.

With poetry, illustrations and clear text the author has put together a very readable book, which can also be used as a workbook. The power of all five channels: seeing, hearing, talking, touching and smelling is explored.… (mer)