From dodo bird to mindfulness: the effect of theoretical orientation on work and self

I discuss my transformation from a confused graduate student with a common factors theoretical orientation to a licensed psychologist focused on humanistic, cognitive, and mindfulness approaches. My theoretical journey was shaped by my work with clients and my own personal development and primarily motivated by a sense of uncertainty that accompanied the lack of a specific theoretical identity. This discussion of trying to find the "right" theoretical approach is set against the well-supported empirical findings that theoretical techniques (i.e., "specific factors") contribute relatively little to clinical outcome, and that no single theoretical approach has distinguished itself as superior to others in the literature. I discuss the effects of my theoretical orientations on my work with colleagues, my relationship with my spouse, and being a parent.