HUMANISTIC Professionals direct their life and work by the values of humanistic psychology. As you can see from these pages, many Humanistic Professionals are psychologists and/or psychotherapists. But not all. We also have educators, consultants, futurists, somatics practitioners, social workers, not to mention students in all these professions.

It makes a positive difference in the world when people who stand for humanistic values declare themselves, together. Every profession represented here can be changed, needs to be changed, in the direction of offering more respect for the individual, basing relationships more on empowerment than on "power over," valuing more honesty, vulnerability, and compassion. You hold in your hand a book of revolutionaries. Each of these people, in his or her own way, lives by a set of values that are, unfortunately, still radical in this society.

Let me speak for myself and tell you some of the values I hold in my work and my personal life. I try to approach each person with respect and fundamental equality. Even if our roles make us temporarily unequal (as a teacher and student), I try to remember that we are both learning and growing.

I try to avoid putting people into categories or pigeonholes. If I must, I try to remember that the individual person is always more than the category.

I try to operate with mutual honesty and mutual vulnerability. I am not a professional mask. My humanness is transparent.

I try to respect the differences between myself and others. When there are differences, I try to begin by listening.

I try to give myself the same respect and honor that I would give to another person. I try to respect my need for personal time and personal space, and I lovingly stand up for myself when I need to.

I urge you, as a Humanistic Professional, to be proud of the values you hold. Live them boldly, knowing that every time you treat a human being humanely, that behavior spreads by ripples through the whole society. Know that you are not alone: this Directory is full of your support community. Use AHP's Directory of Professional Members -- refer to each other, call each other up, draw on your network.

If you know someone who should be in the Directory but is not, urge them to join AHP. Students are welcome -- we are proud of our special Student Professional category. The more we support each other in living our unique expressions of these values, the more we make a positive difference in the world.

-- Ann Weiser Cornell, President 1993 -- 94

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