About Image Psychology
The following reviews show the esteem in which Dr. Akhter Ahsen’s pioneering research in eidetic imaging, and the new Image Psychology founded upon his discoveries, is held by professionals in many fields throughout the world. Ahsen is an experimental psychologist, clinician, scholar and writer; the author of over thirty books centered on eidetic imaging, including several volumes of poetry and an Oedipus play seen as equal to Sophocles’; and the editor of the scientific peer reviewed Journal Of Mental Imagery since 1977.
Below the reviews is a copy of the Citation Of Honor presented to Ahsen in 2000 by the Indian Council Of Social Science Research acknowledging his contribution to the development of a dynamic Peace Psychology and establishing principles by which we can overcome the clash of civilizations.
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Citation Of Honor
from the Indian Council Of Social Science Research
received by Dr. Akhter Ahsen, the founder of Image Psychology,
in November 2000
PROFESSOR AKHTER AHSEN (b. 6 February 1933) Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society, New York, USA is a renowned scholar of the South Asian Region. He has made pioneering contribution to psychological science. ... The thrust of the imagery movement as follows Ahsen's lead, is that the image is the most central to human activity and expression ... Image Psychology ... accounts for both eastern and western traditions of science and philosophy as is shown in his latest book Hot And Cold Mental Imagery, Mind Over Body Encounters. Besides his contribution to the field of Image Psychology Professor Ahsen has authored many literary works ... Professor Ahsen's psychological concepts and researches have contributed to the development of a dynamic "Peace Psychology" and critical thinking for non-violent resolution of conflict, and the promotion of tolerance for plurality of viewpoints. He has also richly contributed to strengthening feminist perspectives on peace making. He has established the psychological principles of a new movement for moral, spiritual and intellectual transformation of the Third Millennium to overcome the clash of civilizations.
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BOOKS ON EIDETIC IMAGING
by Akhter Ahsen, Ph.D.
ABC of Imagery
APHRODITE, The Psychology Of Consciousness
AUTISM, The Picture Approach
EIDETIC PARENTS TEST AND ANALYSIS
GANESH, The Broken & The Misshapen; Invocation & Commentary
on Consciousness
HOT AND COLD MENTAL IMAGERY
HYPONOIA: The Underneath Sense Of Being
ILLUMINATIONS ON THE PATH OF SOLOMON
IMAGERY PARADIGM, Imaginative Consciousness In The Experimental
And Clinical Setting
LEARNING ABILITY AND DISABILITY, an Image Approach
MANHUNT IN THE DESERT, The Epic Dimensions Of Man, Introduction by
Joseph Campbell
MENSTRUATION & MENOPAUSE; IMAGERY THERAPEUTICS IN
SOCIAL CONTEXT
NEW SURREALISM, The Liberation Of Images In Consciousness
PSYCHEYE, Self-Analytic Consciousness
RHEA COMPLEX, A detour Around Oedipus Complex
TROJAN HORSE, Imagery In Psychology, Art, Literature & Politics
UNVIVIDNESS PARADOX, Dynamics Of Imagery Formation
Edited by Akhter Ahsen:
GUIDED IMAGERY AND EDUCATION, Edited by Akhter Ahsen
IMAGERY AND SOCIOLOGY, Edited by Akhter Ahsen
By Ahsen Trainees:
BEYOND MS, It’s All In The Image, by Nancy A Bent
SOUL PROGRESSIONS: Harmoniously Releasing Ourselves From What Got Into Us, by Janet K Bloom, M.F.A., C.E.I.T. - coming soon
IMAGERY TREATMENT OF PHOBIAS, ANXIETY STATES AND OTHER SYMPTOM COMPLEXES, by Anna T. Dolan, M.D.
IMAGE & WORD in Ahsen’s Image Psychology, by Judith Hochman
NEW TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE in Akhter Ahsen’s Eidetic Image Therapy, by Toni Nixon, Ed.D.
IMAGES OF DESIRE, Finding your natural sensual self in today’s image filled society, by Jaqueline Lapa Sussman
FREEDOM FROM FAILURE by Jaqueline Lapa Sussman
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Dr. Akhter Ahsen's web site: www.imagepsychology.com
Journal Of Mental Imagery: jmi@journalofmentalimagery.com
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© Janet K Bloom 2010. All Rights Reserved.
Reviews of Akhter Ahsen’s Work
Ahsen is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association
and the American Psychological Society
“Ahsen invites the reader to enrich the concept of the image way beyond any prior concept he or she may have had.”
Professor Ernest R. Hilgard, Stanford University
Past President of American Psychological Association
“Eidetic imagery enabled me to pinpoint the sources of my character, its strengths and weaknesses, thereby helping me to understand how and why I have succeeded in business. It enabled me to identify specific capabilities and, in so doing, made me even more focused and productive. I believe Eidetic Imagery can be a useful tool for anyone interested in maximizing his or her business potential as well as personal development.”
William Simon,
Former Secretary of the United States Treasury
“Ahsen’s approach is both powerful and practical. It works. It places within the hands of trained practitioners a simple, but stunningly effective pedagogy for helping persons struggling with autism. Images are used to evoke emotional contact. A structured – and inherently creative – protocol elicits, welcomes, confirms and nurtures an unfolding world of connected feelings. In my experience, the transformations are profound, cumulative and appear permanent.”
Dr. William F. Vendeley,
Secretary General, Religions for Peace, United Nations
“By distracting the surface mind and using imagery it allows us to re-enter past experiences,
and understand unexamined emotions. It gives us a map for inner traveling.
Gloria Steinem
“These images are like finding pockets of gold in the psyche. This is a whole new and deeply relevant approach to ‘real’ mental and emotional health.”
Robin Morgan,
Editor, Ms. Magazine
“This eidetic work helped me to get a grip on the times that I feel down, confused, or
in my relationships. I was able to use certain images that not only explained why I was
feeling the way I was, but also helped me get past them to do what I wanted and needed to
do. Also, the eidetic tools have been invaluable to harness my creative energies at work.”
Stephanie Von Hirschberg,
Editor, New Woman Magazine
“I have found that these images effectively and permanently free blocked energies that
allow people to get on successfully with their lives.”
Carol Jenkins,
News Anchor, Fox Five
“... one of the most significant developments yet to emerge in psychotherapy since Freud's psychoanalysis ...”
The Glasgow Journal Of Psychology
“This goes a step beyond Jung.”
Elizabeth Kubler Ross,
Author, On Death and Dying
“A wonderful approach to a therapeutic journey through complicated areas. Akhter
Ahsen has made it possible for everyone. I congratulate him over its worldwide acceptance.”
Dr. Mohammed Ajmal,
Principal, Government College Pakistan; Secretary of Education, Pakistan
“Akhter Ahsen is a principal theorist in the field of imagery-based therapies and
programs for personal growth. No one is more responsible than he for the recent attention to imagery as transformative power.”
Michael Murphy,
Esalen Institute
“Ahsen's contribution may be to re-establish the importance of imagery in the
thought processes of Western psychology.”
Existential Psychiatry
“In his work he has ... reunited body and soul and given us an approach which
enables the patient to cut through the mind/body problem and deal with the
essential unity which is himself as a human being.”
International Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Hypnosis
“Ahsen's roots in the East, combined with his experience of Western culture, his
literary scholarship and extensive knowledge of mythologies give him a fresh
perspective that reminds that our heritage is broader than Western psychology ....
Ahsen's work is important both because of the brilliance and originality of the
imaging structures he presents and because of his understanding of the connection between imagery and our deeper spirituality.”
Common Boundary
“What Dr. Ahsen appears to be emphasizing is that spontaneous and potential psychical
visual experiences (eidetic images) can be linked to emotional and psychophysiological states
... to relieve anxiety and conflicts and understand patterns of behavior in self and others...this
is pioneer work.”
Indian Journal Of Psychiatry
“Ahsen's Eidetic Psychotherapy is a major innovation in the traditions of psychotherapy that
is as neurologically informed as it is humanistically and holistically conceived.”
Somatics
“Eidetic analysis is unique as a simultaneous blend of diagnosis and therapy. Its scope ranges from an individual working alone, through consciousness couples to families and groups. The possibilities for widespread self-directed lay therapy or personal growth are enormous.”
Canadian Counselor
“... unmatched in the clinical literature ... a methodological advance.”
The American Journal Of Psychiatry
“... without doubt, the method offers possibilities for a rapid and deep investigation probe.”
Swiss Archives For Neurology, Neurosurgery And Psychiatry
“The nature of the parent-child or parent-parent relationship, whether hostile, aggressive, dependent, affectionate, deceptive, supportive, etc., is released without disguise.”
The Family Coordinator
“Eidetic imagery ... is a precision tool for correcting dysfunctions of the mind by
reestablishing contact with the core of sanity.”
The New Sun
“Below the "interparental" level, Dr. Ahsen discovered what he calls the "mythological" level.
Here are found the great mythological figures that have appeared in the world's religions,
figures that are associated with euphoric feelings. They occur naturally in the very young
child... (and) continue to remain attractive to the mind of the adult... Ahsen says," If the
person can contact these figures, he will discover an inner source of wisdom and power that
can only be called neuromythic -- both neurological and mythological ... in him mythological figures exist like the drawn bow, ready to be shot but powerfully held back by forces of history, objectivity, analysis, and reason."
Personal Growth
“... a discerning eye for the subtleties of human experience and masterful comprehension
of the far-reaching power of myth to influence our lives ...”
Michael D. Kahn,
Co-Author The Sibling Bond
“Ahsen's whole mythology is an early set of motivational principles, wherein he treats this
subject matter of desire and mercy in the most engaging manner. There is a whole new
angle here for looking at things.”
Kenneth Burke,
Literary Critic
“I should think that Dr. Ahsen's stance has a superior function in the therapeutic work.”
Harry Schlochower,
Editor, Imago
“It is possible that what Ahsen has achieved is a new means of communication, more
subtle than verbalization of facts and associative thinking.”
Behavior Therapy
“Our own view backs up Ahsen's assertion that imagery affords a solid medium for
diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.”
Journal Of Learning Disabilities
“For parents, using eidetic images instantly reveals to them – as no other method I know can
– what their child is experiencing and how their children are relating to their world. It enables
them to know their child in a way that they could not before. It brings fresh insight and new
understanding.”
Marc Ungar
President, National Attention Deficit Disorder Action Group
“...(His work) constitutes a unique and important contribution to the scientific study of
healing with imagery ... by far the best of its kind.”
New Age
“Anyone interested in visualization should find it valuable and provocative.”
Brain/Mind Bulletin
“... a very original and very promising approach.”
Zeitschrift FurPsychologie
“Through the recovery of positive states of consciousness, especially the Expectation high,
the natural enthusiasm for life is revitalized. ... solutions tried in the absence of this
primary strength have limited results. Ahsen's approach has provided a much needed fresh perspective. Through his ... innovative method, hopes can be translated into fruitful living,
making life, once again, a truly high experience.” … ‘The first time I used drugs I was
expecting a transcendental experience, a magical transformation. I was expecting the world
to come alive in a new way. In the alcohol and drug experience I was looking for exalted expression, uninhibited freedom of expression and action, but all I got was pain. I tried to
convince myself I loved my pain. I tried to live out Oscar Wilde’s notion that while joy might ennoble the body, only grief ennobles the soul. I tried to make my addiction a transcendental experience but it did not work. Tragedy might make good poetry, but it doesn't make a good
life. Through Eidetics, life has truly become a transcendent experience.’
L.C. from New Treatment Of Alcohol & Drug Abuse by
Dr. Toni Nixon
“In recent times (Ahsen's work) is considered to be of equal merit with the other very orignal thinkers of the Western world, and this reaction is unambiguously documented.”
Manas, A Journal Of Scientific Psychology
“... indelible, life structuring.”
Joseph Campbell,
Mythologist
“… Naturally, I wish you every possible success.”
Mircea Eliade
“Explains how the balance causes all these kinds of contradictory feelings because anything depends on the balance one maintains. You have to start to reach for what
you were defying.”
Yul Brynner
Actor