Linda Riebel, Ph. D.
Publications
Books
How People Recover from Eating Disorders. (2004). with Jane Kaplan, Ph. D. Xlibris.
Eating to Save the Earth: Food Choices for a Healthy Planet. (2002) with Ken Jacobsen. Celestial Arts, $9.95.
Articles (selected)
I have published over a dozen professional journal articles on a variety of topics. Here are a few you might find interesting:
Self-Sealing Doctrines, the Misuse of Power, and Recovered Memory. (1996). Transactional Analysis Journal, 26 (1), 40-45.
The “self-sealing doctrine” is any belief system that a person believes in so blindly that he or she refuses to listen to any evidence against it. In fact, the believer takes the disconfirming evidence and turns it around so that it seems to confirm the cherished belief. For instance, a person in a cult may announce that the end of the world is coming on Monday, October 25. When the end of the world does not arrive, the cult member may say, “God changed His mind because my group was so devout.” The disconfirming evidence, instead of raising doubts about the cult’s doctrines, is used to confirm them. In this journal article, I describe the self-sealing doctrine and show how it can appear in the contentious debate over recovered memory. Read excerpt.
The Family Passenger. (1995). The California Therapist, 7 (1), 37-41.
Some children never grow up. They live with their parents, or in housing paid for by their parents; they have an allowance; and they never develop real careers, though they may make one half-hearted attempt after another. They are the passengers in their families. Some of these dependent adults are angry; some are passive; and some are self-destructive. (I am not here referring to adults who have genuine medical or developmental handicaps). In this article, I describe the kinds of dependency and the dangers they pose to the families – and ultimately to the passengers themselves. Read excerpt.
Communication Skills for Eating-Disordered Clients. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training 26 (1), 69-74.
Many people with eating disorders (such as anorexia, bulimia, or compulsive eating) have poor communication skills, despite an appearance of social poise. In an effort to please others, they mask their true feelings and disown their true wishes. In this article, I describe some inaccurate beliefs that underlie miscommunication and show how they are connected to the use of food as an all-purpose anesthetic or distraction. I also describe specific ways to improve communication. Read related materials.
A Homeopathic Model of Psychotherapy. (1984). Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 24 (1), 9-48.
Why are there so many kinds of psychotherapy? In this article, I show that behind the dramatic differences between Gestalt and cognitive therapy, or between psychoanalysis and paradoxical intention approaches or any approach to therapy, there are two basic underlying mechanisms that therapists use to propel their clients forward in life. They key is knowing which mechanism to use, and when.
Complete List of Publications
2004. How People Recover from Eating Disorders (with Jane Kaplan, Ph.D.)
Philadelphia: Xlibris.2004. Ecological Psychology. Co-authored with Marc Pilisuk.Learning Guide for Saybrook Graduate School.2003. Building Sustainability: The Global Crisis. Co-authored with Marc Pilisuk.Learning Guide for Saybrook Graduate School.2002. Eating to Save the Earth: Food Choices for a Healthy Planet.Berkeley:Celestial Arts.2001. Consuming the Earth: Eating Disorders and Ecopsychology.Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 41 (2), 38-58.2000 a. Critical Thinking for Psychologists.Learning Guide for Saybrook Graduate School.2000 b. Hidden Grandiosity in Bulimics.Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training. 37 (2), 180-188.1998. Critical Thinking for Psychology and Human Science.Learning Guide for Saybrook Graduate School. Co-authored with Charles Webel.1996. A Survival Guide for the Bemused Graduate Student.Unpublished manuscript for Saybrook Graduate School.1996. Self-Sealing Doctrines, the Misuse of Power, and Recovered Memory.Transactional Analysis Journal, 26 (1), 40-45.1995. The Family Passenger.The California Therapist, 7 (1), 37-41.1993. The Match of Adulation: The Mutual Seduction of Leaders and Followers.The California Therapist, November/December, 56-61.1992. On With the Show (Therapist as Actor).Family Therapy Networker, 16 (5), 32-37.1991. Dieters, Diets, and Dilemmas.Et Cetera. Fall, 313-316.1990 a. The Dropout Problem in Eating Disorder Groups.Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 27 (3), 404-410.1990 b. Doctor, Teacher, Indian Chief: The Metaphors Therapists Live.Journal of Integrative and Eclectic Psychotherapy. 9 (2), 119-135.1989 a. Communication Skills for Eating Disordered Clients.Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 26 (1), 69-74.1989 b. Someone You Love is Obsessed with Food: What You Need to Know AboutEating Disorders. Center City, MN: Hazelden. (with Jane Kaplan, Ph. D.)1989 c. A Day in the Life of a Private Practitioner.Family Therapy Networker, 13 (4), 69-71.1988. Understanding Eating Disorders: A Guide for Health Care Professionals.Sacramento: Robert D. Anderson.1987. Logic as a Tool of Analysis.Unpublished manuscript used as instructional material at Saybrook Graduate School.1986. Usurpation: Strategy and Metaphor.Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 22 (3), 595-603.1985. Eating Disorders and Personal Constructs.Transactional Analysis Journal, 15 (1), 42-47.1984 a. A Homeopathic Model of Psychotherapy.Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 234 (1), 9-48.1984 b. Paradoxical Strategies: A Review of Rationales.Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training 21 (2), 260-272.1982 a. Theory as Self-Portrait and the Ideal of Objectivity.Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 22 (2), 91-110.1982 b. Humanistic Psychology: How Realistic?Small Group Behavior, 13 (3), 349-371.1979. Falsifiability, Self-Sealing Doctrines, and Humanistic Psychology.HPI Review, 2 (1), 41-59.