Douglas LaBier

Douglas LaBier is a business psychologist, psychotherapist, and writer. He is the Founder and Director of the Center for Progressive Development, in Washington, D.C. Beginning in the 1970s, his work has focused on identifying the links between positive human development, careers, organizational culture and leadership. LaBier currently conducts programs for senior executives and leadership teams regarding these issues, in addition to practicing psychotherapy for men, women and couples; and writing for a general audience.

LaBier is the author of Modern Madness: The Hidden Link Between Work and Emotional Conflict (ISBN 0-595-08900-3). Published by Simon & Schuster in 1989, it was based on extensive research with 220 men and women, and described how careers within large organizations affect the potential for emotional and values conflict. It was cited by Daniel Goleman in The New York Times as “In the vanguard...offering sobering insights into the costs of modern success.”^[1] The book argued that personal and career-related conflicts are often caused by successful adaptation to the roles, pressures, and culture within organizations and careers.

LaBier has authored articles on related issues for The Washington Post,^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} The New York Times, Fortune,^[11] Business Ethics, and other publications, regarding career and personal life conflicts within contemporary culture.

His is a recognized expert on the link between work and mental health; midlife developmental conflicts; building psychologically healthy management and leadership; and positive human development. As such, his knowledge and views in those areas have been sought by various publications for media commentary ^{[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]} since the 1980s.

His current focus includes survey and research trends that show a growing desire to integrate career success, personal life goals, and service to the human community; and rising interest among corporate executives to create environmentally sustainable, socially responsible business practices within a psychologically health workplace.

LaBier has been a faculty member at the Washington School of Psychiatry since 1980 and has conducted workshops and management consultations to Federal Agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Commerce, and others; as well as for Fortune 500 corporations, trade associations and nonprofit organizations.

LaBier was raised in upstate New York. His father, Horace J. LaBier, founded Local 227 of the International Chemical Workers Union in 1937 at a German-owned chemical factory nationalized by the U.S. government during World War I, and served as its president for 10 terms.^[23] LaBier’s father was frequently accused of being a Communist by the company, and won a well-publicized case before the National Labor Relations Board when the company forbid him to distribute pamphlets to workers containing readings of Spinoza, Aristotle, and Freud.^[24]

LaBier received his Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1969 and did post-doctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health, where he served on staff until 1973. He then trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the Washington School of Psychiatry, and in the clinical and research methods of the psychoanalyst Erich Fromm.

External links

• Center for Progressive Development
• Washington School of Psychiatry

References

1. ^ Goleman, Daniel. "THE STRANGE AGONY OF SUCCESS" The New York Times, August 24, 1986.
2. ^ Labier, Douglas. "You've Gotta Think Like Google", "The Washington Post", Nov 11, 2008; F.1.
3. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Lulled Into Numbness; Giving Up on Starting Over Can Take a Psychic Toll"", "The Washington Post", Apr 1, 2008; F.5.
4. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Empathy: Could It Be What You're Missing?; A Washington Psychotherapist Suggests How to Tell...and How to Treat the Symptoms", "The Washington Post", Dec 25, 2007; F.5.
5. ^ Labier, Douglas. "The Inside Out Solution; Balancing Home and Work Won't Bring Peace of Mind, Says a Therapist. Getting Your Inner and Outer Lives in Sync Just Could", "The Washington Post", Feb 14, 2006; F.01;
6. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Relighting The Fire; A Flickering Relationship Needs New Fuel. To Find It, You May Need to Step Away And Reignite Yourself", "The Washington Post", Nov 12, 2002; F.01.
7. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Midlife awakenings: The '60s generation confronts itself", "The Washington Post", Feb 20, 1995; B5.
8. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Coping; Plugging In to Midlife Powers; Action, Not Reaction, Is the Secret", The Washington Post", Jul 12, 1993; B.05.
9. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Focus; Our Midlife Expectancy", "The Washington Post", Apr 30, 1991; c.05.
10. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Men & Women at Midlife: Looking for Adult Love in the '90s", "The Washington Post", Mar 13, 1990; D5.
11. ^ Labier, Douglas. "Madness Stalks the Ladder Climbers", "Fortune", September, 1986.
12. ^ Irrational Executives, The New York Times, May 1, 1984, Daniel Goleman
13. ^ "Study Finds Ways to Fight Career Malaise", The New York Times, September 27, 1988, Gina Kolata
14. ^ LIFE STYLE; "Taking Time Off From the Rat Race" The New York Times, April 30, 1989, Jack Manning
15. ^ Healing the Wounds of Success, The Washington Post, July 23, 1989, Cindy Skrzycki
16. ^ "Young, Successful But Between Jobs", The New York Times, November 7, 1990, Jon Nordheimer
17. ^ "Dumped Dot- Commers Find It Tough to Accept That Crashing and Burning Is 'Ultimately a Good Thing,'" The Washington Post;,Feb 20, 2001, Amy Joyce
18. ^ "After the Layoff, Time Off; Midlife Rat-Race Dropouts Getting More Common, Workplace Experts Say" The Washington Post, Aug 16, 2001, Amy Joyce
19. ^ "Boredom Numbs the Work World; Lack of Stimulation Infects Humble and High-Ranking Jobs Alike", The Washington Post, Aug 10, 2005, Amy Joyce
20. ^ "Is There a Healer In the House?; Workplace Coaches Offer Some Tips for Democrats", The Washington Post, Nov 16, 2006, Libby Copeland
21. ^ "Pass the Pasta, Please, and Hold the Stress; Some Companies Boost Their Bottom Line by Putting Workers at the Top of the Priority List", The Washington Post Jul 10, 2007, Beth Baker
22. ^ A Little Empathy, Please, O, The Oprah Magazine, January 01, 2006, Amanda Robb
23. ^ "History of the ICWUC"
24. ^ Albany (NY) Knickerbocker News, June 5, 1963

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