| The popularity of self-improvement books, tapes and | | | | "Self Improvement Online" and "Mental Health Net." |
| seminars is a reflection of the universal interest we all | | | | Although its modest self description on the home |
| have in overcoming our limitations, or "being the best | | | | page is "This Web site contains lots of |
| we can be" or "achieving our full potential." | | | | psychology-related information for students and |
| Popular applications of self-improvement programs | | | | teachers of psychology," it is that and much more. |
| include motivation and confidence, personal | | | | The links on its self-help directory page alone are |
| relationships, sales and job performance, | | | | worth the time of the trip to this site: |
| enhancement of sports performance, public speaking, | | | | � Internet Mental Health: |
| weight control and smoking cessation. | | | | In their words: "Internet Mental Health is a free |
| Here are some basic principles to help you determine | | | | encyclopedia of mental health information. It was |
| whether such products or programs are worthy of | | | | designed by a Canadian psychiatrist, Dr. Phillip Long, |
| your time and money. | | | | and programmed by his colleague, Brian |
| There is no book or program that will be an exact fit | | | | Chow...Internet Mental Health is for anyone who has |
| for your needs and interests. Books and group | | | | an interest in mental health: -Mental health |
| programs are necessarily general in nature. Some of | | | | professionals -Patients who want to learn more about |
| the ideas and concepts may apply well to you, but | | | | their illness -Friends and families of patients -Mental |
| others may be irrelevant or just plain wrong as | | | | health support groups -Students -Members of the |
| applied to your own personality and life situation. Use | | | | general public who want to learn more about mental |
| good judgment and discrimination in following advice | | | | health" This is an impressive site with many helpful |
| offered in any self-improvement program. | | | | articles and resources. If you are interested in mental |
| Be wary of any program that is highly authoritarian | | | | health from any point of view, you'll be happy you |
| and that tears you down, or attacks people who | | | | visited. |
| question what is being done. There have been many | | | | � Life Mentoring: |
| group self-improvement programs that have enjoyed | | | | Because of the demand from our clients we started |
| a temporary burst of great popularity over the years | | | | this site Life Mentoring for individual visitors, in |
| that have been extremely damaging to some | | | | 1998. It's mission is to provide you with the best |
| participants. | | | | collection of thoughts, ideas, philosophies and practical |
| The most effective program or tape would, of | | | | concepts for leading a truly meaningful and successful |
| course, be one that is designed specifically for the | | | | life. It is not linked to any school of thought, but |
| individual, addressing his or her unique goals, | | | | rather wants to give you an overview of all different |
| motivation and personality. Obviously this can be | | | | approaches - and so you to choose and pick |
| done only in personal consultation with a professional | | | | whatever suits your needs best." The site has a |
| person such as a psychologist and involves the cost | | | | number of very good articles, excellent collection of |
| of paying that professional person for the time it | | | | links, a free newsletter, a bbs/forum. Lots of |
| takes them to provide the individual attention | | | | enthusiasm, but no commercial hype. |
| required to design a program or tape tailored exactly | | | | A group program or a general tape is, of course, less |
| to your needs. | | | | costly. If it does in fact does come close to fitting |
| Suggesting a link to which you can seek for help can | | | | the goals, motivation and personality of the individual |
| make things easier for you to achieve your goal. Help | | | | reasonably well, it may prove to be a useful |
| is on its way. Here are links that I can suggest you | | | | self-improvement tool. It is a less costly approach, |
| can visit. | | | | but it could not reasonably be expected to be as |
| � Psych Web by Russ Dewey: | | | | effective as a program or tape designed specifically |
| The content of this awesome and well-organized site | | | | for you. |
| might be described as half-way in between the sites | | | | |