Therapist
Writer
Speaker
Dr. Mary Pipher received her BA in Cultural Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley in 1969 and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska in 1977. She received two American Psychological Association Presidential Citations. In 2001, she was a Rockefeller Foundation Scholar in Residence at Bellagio, Italy. Dr Pipher's work combines her training in both the fields of psychology and anthropology. Her special area if interest is how American culture influences the mental health of its people
Dr. Pipher has appeared on the “Today Show”, “20/20”, “The Charlie Rose Show, “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and National Public Radio's “Fresh Air”. Three of her books, Reviving Ophelia, The Shelter of Each Other, and Another Country were New York Times bestsellers. Her eighth book, a memoir, will be published in the spring 2009 by Riverhead. Reviving Ophelia was #1 for 27 weeks and on the NYT list for 154 weeks. Dr. Pipher travels all over the world sharing her ideas with community groups, schools, and health care professionals. Her articulate and passionate delivery creates enthusiasm in all types of audiences. Her down-to-earth stories of hope and resilience inspire people to work together to build a better community.
After decades as a psychotherapist and best-selling author of such life-changing books as Reviving Ophelia and The Shelter of Each Other, Mary Pipher turns her attention to herself - collecting insights from her own life to illuminate the importance of the journey, not just the destination. Her new book is called Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World.
Like most lives, Pipher's is filled with glory and tragedy, chaos and clarity, love and abandonment. She spent her childhood in small Nebraska towns, the daughter of a doctor mother and a restless jack-of-all-trades father. Often both of her parents were away and Pipher and her siblings lived as what she calls "feral children." Later, as a therapist, Pipher was able to do what she most enjoyed: learn about the world and help others. After the surprising success of Reviving Ophelia, she found herself overwhelmed by the demands on her time and attention. In 2002, Pipher realized that success and fame were harming her, and she began working to find a quieter, more meditative life that would carry her toward self-acceptance and joy.
In Seeking Peace, Mary Pipher tells her own remarkable story, and in the process reveals truths about our search for happiness and love. While her story is unique, "the basic map and milestones of my story are universal," she writes. "We strive to make sense of our selves and our environments."
The paperback of Seeking Peace is available April 6, 2010
