The Psychological Quest for Inner Peace

This book was written in an effort to shed some light on the diverse and obscure paths, or patterns of relating and being we follow throughout our lives as we strive to establish convictions about who we are and develop an acceptable identity. We are all on a life long journey to find acceptance, contentment, security, happiness, and, ultimately, inner peace. In this sense our lives can be seen as a voyage of discovery, a journey motivated by the need for security and for personal fulfillment. But the region of the mind - our essence, our identity - is laden with paradox. If we are to be successful, we must learn to utilize both sides of our being - our conscious, rational, thinking side as well as our unconscious, irrational, feeling side - as we trek through life in search of purpose, contentment and happiness. Toward this end the book will be disecting the essence of this voyage and discussing the experiences of people who have struggled successfully with these issues. And hopefully, because of the mistakes and discoveries they have made, you will find your own search more fruitful.

Donald Cadogan has worked as a clinical psychologist and marriage and family counselor for over forty years in hospitals and group private practice, primarily in California. He has published magazine and syndicated newspaper articles, including a newspaper series entitled, "The Was We Are." His professional publications include the first controlled study of marital group therapy in the treatment of alcoholism and chapters for professional books. Dr. Cadogan currently maintains a private practice at Oak Tree Counseling in Monrovia, California.