h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Looking at their site...it doesn't seem to be at the flakier extremes of new-ageism. Sure, some of their descriptions of memory storage are a little suspect, and best taken only as analogies - but at least they don't try to pin it around some kind of bogus, category-based framework. The basic principle seems sound enough (to over-simplify):

'Talking about past hurts helps you get over them.'

I've 'done' a couple of talking therapies myself. One was Cognitive Behaviour Therapy - thoroughly endorsed by trick cyclists. The other - plain, old non-derective counselling - isn't a million miles away from CBT.

But one does have to be a little cautious of anything with a fancy name.

Didn't think of looking at their site because I wasn't sure they were still around.

The theory was regarded as relatively unimportant, but the practice was tremendous. A few simple rules (non-socialising was one) and a simple objective: to permit and support 'discharge' (shaking, laughing, crying, gestures and angry noises) by each subject in turn, which led to surprising breakthroughs, with the re-evaluation of one's irrational behaviours.

It lost some cred over a sex scandal. Isn't it ever thus.

Ah! I'm not sure I could handle the shaking and crying etc.. Sure, a good cry can be therapeutic - in every therapist's room I've ever seen there's been a handy box of tissues...but not to order.

Speaking of sex scandals...I was brought up a couple of blocks from a 'Sex for Jesus' group who were briefly in the tabloid spotlight in the seventies. The won concerts by 'flirty fishing' and 'love bombing.' Down the road there were some very nice Korean Moonie girls...and next door were young Mormon missionaries, including Kirk Anderson, 'The Mannacled Mormon' of Joyce McKinney fame (remember the rather plump lady who said she's ski nude down Mt Everest with a carnation in her mouth for him?). What I remember most was that they would fling open their windows at 6am and lean out, shouting 'I feel great! I feel fine! Thank you, Lord, for this glorious day!' My father had to have a quiet word.

concerts? converts!

Haven't had a good shake 'n' vac for a while now . . .