Elderly inspiration

THERE is much we can learn from the elderly. We can learn not only from their wisdom born of long experience, but also from the power of their intellect. To me this is never more evident than when attending the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference held every four years in Anaheim, California. As usual, many of the stars of the recent conference were aged in their 80s and 90s. One presenter was Dr Aaron (Tim) Beck, now aged 96, who did much to transform psychological therapy in the second half of the last century. By inventing cognitive therapy he helped us appreciate that our reactions to situations are not so much shaped by the actual circumstances themselves, but by our attitude toward them. Dr Beck delivered a keynote address to more than 7000 psychotherapists about his ongoing clinical work with people with schizophrenia. Although he was too physically frail to attend in person, he described with great clarity how he now helps sufferers of psychosis. He described examples of helping people with schizophrenia to shift their focus from delusional beliefs by appealing to more adaptive desires underlying their delusions.

For example, he described how a psychotic male patient who sought to become pregnant was encouraged to get a dog from a dog shelter after helping him recognize his underlying desire to nurture another. The client later got a job at an animal hospital. When many people approaching a century might be expected to withdraw from society, Dr Beck was helping the most withdrawn and marginalised to re-engage with the world. How impressive!

I’m forever inspired by Dr Ernest Rossi, now aged 86, who has pioneered brief hypnosis techniques that promote the creation of new brain connections and trigger the switching on and off of genes that influence many physical and mental health conditions and abilities. Dr Rossi further developed these techniques after having a stroke about 15 years ago. He probably remains the most advanced and innovative therapist in the world at relating psychotherapy techniques to principles of quantum physics, supported by a physicist and chemist on his research team. Despite relative deafness and reduced stamina, he helped yet another client go through profound change in a half hour live demonstration.

Dr Erving Polster at 95 remains a world leader in Gestalt therapy. He entertained us with an extremely moving and elegant live therapy demonstration with his volunteer client, an experienced psychotherapist from New York. Despite his loss of vision to the point that he could barely make out her facial features, he helped the client further develop her readiness and confidence to engage in an intimate relationship, a problematic issue throughout her adult life. Dr Polster partly helped her do so by having her express deep truths by whispering them, or singing them, in front of a large audience of fellow therapists.

Other presenters in their 80s included a range of other leaders in fields such as transpersonal, psychodynamic and humanistic therapies. Dr Phillip Zimbardo, a social psychologist aged 84, continues to inspire international efforts to promote heroism in everyday life, including locally through Hero Town Geelong. He was his usual spirited self when delivering a keynote address to thousands.

Some years ago, Daniel Klein, a philosopher in his 70s, wrote a delightful book called Travels with Epicurus about living well in old age. He differentiated this period from “old-old age”, when people are very infirm and their connection with the world is greatly restricted. We might recognize that many of the most inspiring people among us are already well beyond a once decent quota of three score years and 10.

CHRIS MACKEY IS A FELLOW OF THE AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE PRINCIPAL PSYCHOLOGIST AT CHRIS MACKEY AND ASSOCIATES.