About Richard Harvey

I am a psycho-spiritual psychotherapist, author and spiritual teacher. In my early twenties I became part of the Human Potential Movement and studied with some of the leading figures of Western psychology and meditation masters.

After years of study and inward searching, I had a personal breakthrough which I experienced as a transformation into authenticity. I worked hard to integrate these new insights and stabilize in the deeper understanding that I received from my years of personal work. Out of this rich experience my practice developed and I began working with individuals, couples and groups. Since 2002 I have lived in Andalucia, southern Spain.

Biography

My work spans over 40 years. During that time I have worked with individuals, couples, groups and communities, both psychologically and spiritually. I have helped hundreds of people to find greater peace and fulfillment in their lives. My approach is to encourage, empower and enable people to clarify, heal, and liberate themselves from the restrictive conditioning that compromises their relationships, family and working lives.

I have led groups, workshops, seminars and training courses throughout Europe, as well as maintaining a private practice. I act as a consultant to training courses, work with staff groups and communities, run supervision groups and act as a supervisor to psychotherapists.

At the heart of my work is the awakening of individual consciousness, within the wider context of collective spiritual awakening, through a threefold process of work on the personality, the transformation into authenticity, and the realization of our true nature.

Training in Chronological Order

I trained at the Devon Centre for Alternative Therapy and Education for four years with the American psychotherapist Richard Dror, who had been a senior leader at Quaesitor Center for Personal Growth (the first humanistic therapy center in Europe), in existential-humanistic psychotherapy, Bioenergetics, Gestalt Therapy and transpersonal approaches (1978–81).

Other important training includes:

lived in India and studied at the Rajneesh Ashram, Poona (1977–78)
studied group dynamics at the Richmond Fellowship, London (1982)
trained with David Boadella (Neo-Reichian Bodywork, Biosynthesis) and Paul Rebillot (Gestalt) amongst many others
studied Zen Buddhist meditation at Throssel Hole Priory, a Zen training monastery (1984)
completed a 3-year post-graduate diploma training in Buddhist orientated psychotherapy (1988–91)
became a member of the Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (1989–95) and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (1993–95)

Further Theoretical and Experiential Training

My further theoretical and experiential training includes work with:

Miriam Dror (Gestalt and bodywork psychotherapy, 1978–9)
Tony Crisp (Seed Therapy and Dream Therapy, 1978)
Roberta de Long-Miller/Ma Sagarpriya (Psychic Massage, Leela Groupwork, 1979)
Clover Southwell (Biodynamic Psychotherapy, 1980)
The National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) (Counselling and Communications Skills, 1981)
Guy Gladstone (Bioenergetics and Psychodrama, 1982)
Mike Wibberley (Encounter Groups, 1982)
The Institute for the Development of Human Potential (IDHP) (1983)
Maura Sills (Buddhist-oriented psychotherapy, 1983)
John Crook (Western Zen Retreats, Ch'an and Tantra, 1984–5)
Jill Purce (Inner Sound and Voice Workshops, 1986)
William Emerson (Primal Integration, 1991)

Other Experience

From 1981 to 1982 I worked as a group therapist with drug offenders in drug rehabilitation (1981–2), and for ten years I was founder-director of the Change Workshops (1986–1995).

I have run seminars and given talks to natural health centers, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), private groups and communities. In 1984 with Rev. Myoho Harris I established the Soto Zen meditation group in Devon, affiliated to Throssel Hole Priory (now Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey).

Disagreeing with the direction the practice of psychotherapy is taking in its attempts to structure and formalize itself, I no longer align myself to any organization, and work independently.

Publishing

Richard has published 11 books:

He has also published many articles on psychotherapy, spiritual growth, parenting, fatherhood and society

Tributes

Many people have encouraged and inspired me on my personal and spiritual journey. In particular I would like to acknowledge:

Nisargadatta Maharaj for his “hammer blows” of uncompromising insight
Ramana Maharshi for giving the basis of the practice
Adi da Samraj for the incomparable intensity of his teaching
Joseph Campbell for lighting the sphere of wisdom through the ages for me
G I Gurdjieff for uniting love and challenge
The roshis of Throssel Hole Priory (1984), particularly Rev Master Daishin and Rev Master Jimyo, for teaching me the destruction of the holy and the silence of bowing
Richard Dror for guiding me through my personal journey

I extend deep gratitude to them all. And, finally, to the great silence, mouna, the sense of presence, the Divine within.