I’m early in my study of psychology, and a bit further along in my study of people and how they function. This is the great fascination of my life, and most of what I do, say, think, and write about is toward its discovery.
The title of this page comes from a favorite quote: “Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science.” Science, for me, has always been about discovering something in such depth that its beauty and magic are revealed. Psychology just happens to offer me the chance to do that with individual human beings, thus making science an ever more transcendent and meaningful undertaking.
It’s not all so pure and lovely, though. There are myriad problems with psychology, psychiatry, and the mental health system in general. The individuals are often lost in the process: grist for the mill of progress, political or strategic game pieces, or simply inconveniently loud, necessitating silencing. So many voices have been quieted. So many lives have gone unwitnessed, something made even more tragic by the tremendous need that so many have to be seen.
If I have a singular mission, it is to be a witness. I hope to be more than that. I hope to effect change and healing. I hope to advance the science of psychology and the understanding of humanity. I hope to teach others how to do the same. But if I can do none of those things, I will hear the stories of the lost, and the mad, the lonely and the scared. I will witness as many lives as my life can comfortably hold.
I promise.
