Jesse S. Miller

For the Congressman of the same name, see Jesse Miller.

Jesse S. Miller
Born	1940 Brooklyn, New York
Died	March 29, 2006(2006-03-29) California, United States
Residence	California, United States
Nationality	American
Fields	psychology, psychotherapy, cults
Institutions	University of California, Berkeley
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D. Columbia University, B.A.
Doctoral advisor	Judith Wallerstein, Ph.D. Margaret Singer, Ph.D.
Doctoral students	Jerome Wayne Murray, Ph.D.

Jesse Stephen Miller (1940 - March 29, 2006) was a psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist.

Education

• Ph.D., Psychology, UC Berkeley, 1970s
• B.A., Art history, Columbia University, 1961

Biography

After receiving his bachelor's degree from Columbia University, Miller worked as a salesman in his family's printing business. Later, he started his own advertising agency in New York City. After realizing that he disliked the aspects of sales and persuasion, Miller sold his company. In 1971, he enrolled in the psychology program at UC Berkeley^[1].

Miller practiced a form of psychology known as psychodynamic psychotherapy, in which patients are encouraged to openly express suppressed feelings. Notable mentors and instructors included the late Margaret Singer, Ph.D., and Judith Wallerstein, Ph.D.^[1].

With Paul Minsky, Miller taught a course in advanced hypnotherapeutic techniques, at UC Berkeley^[2]. Miller specialized in analysis of hypnotherapy, and wrote the article "The Utilization of Hypnotic Techniques in Religious Cult Conversion", in Cultic Studies Journal.^[3]. Margaret Singer and Janja Lalich later referenced this article, in their 1995 book Cults in Our Midst. Lalich also used the article as a reference in her 2006 book Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships. His article "A Big Mental Health Problem: Finding a Compatible Therapist." in The Advocate was cited by the Institute for Social Services Alternatives^[4][5]

With Singer, Miller served on the APA taskforce on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control, from 1983 to 1986.^[6].

In 1985, Miller served as an expert witness, in the case of "PEOPLE ex rel. ROSEMAN v. TRACHTMAN". Along with expert witnesses Margaret Singer and Richard Ofshe, Miller's affidavit stated that "Cynthia and Phillip were being socially, psychologically and physically restrained of their liberty by defendant." Cynthia and Phillip were the children of plaintiffs, who alleged that the defendant violated their liberties^[7].

Miller was a lover of opera. He credited a performance of Richard Wagner's Götterdämmerung by the Seattle Opera with inspiring him to overcome alcoholism.^[1]

Publications

Articles

• The Utilization of Hypnotic Techniques in Religious Cult Conversion, Cultic Studies Journal, 1986, Volume 3, Number 2, pages 243-250
• Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control, November 1986
• "A Big Mental Health Problem: Finding a Compatible Therapist.", The Advocate. January 26. 1977, pp. 16-19 8. [1]

See also

• List of cult and new religious movement researchers

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Jesse Miller -- psychodynamic therapist", San Francisco Chronicle, Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer, April 8, 2006
2. ^ "Advanced Hypnotherapeutic Techniques", UC Berkeley, Paul Minsky, Jesse S. Miller. Jerome Wayne Murray, Ph.D., CV.
3. ^ The Utilization of Hypnotic Techniques in Religious Cult Conversion, Cultic Studies Journal, 1986, Volume 3, Number 2, pages 243-250
4. ^ "A Big Mental Health Problem: Finding a Compatible Therapist.", The Advocate. January 26. 1977, pp. 16-19 8.
5. ^ Institute for Social Services Alternatives, 1988, Catalyst
6. ^ Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control, November 1986., Margaret Singer, chair; Harold Goldstein, National Institute of Mental Health; Michael Langone, American Family Foundation; Jesse S. Miller, San Francisco, California; Maurice K. Temerlin, Clinical Psychology Consultants, Inc.; Louis Jolyon West, University of California Los Angeles.
7. ^ PEOPLE ex rel. ROSEMAN v. TRACHTMAN, 12/09/1985, Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, First Division.

External links

• "Jesse Miller -- psychodynamic therapist", San Francisco Chronicle, Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer, April 8, 2006
• Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control, November 1986

Persondata
Name	Miller, Jesse S.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1940
Place of birth	Brooklyn, New York
Date of death	March 29, 2006
Place of death	California, United States