Thomas Anthony Harris
Encyclopedia
Thomas Anthony Harris MD
(born 1910, died Sacramento, California
, May 6, 1995) was an American
psychiatrist
and author
who became famous for his self-help manual I'm OK, You're OK
(1969). The book was a bestseller and its name became a cliché
during the 1970s.
Medical School. He was trained in psychiatry at Washington DC's St. Elizabeths Hospital
.
A US Navy psychiatrist for many years, Harris became chief of the Psychiatry Branch and ended his service as a commander during 1954. After that, he taught at the University of Arkansas
, then worked as a senior mental health bureaucrat. He practiced psychiatry in Sacramento, CA.
Dr. Harris was a long-time friend and associate of Dr. Eric Berne
, the founder of Transactional Analysis
, beginning when both men were among the few psychiatrists of the US military. Dr. Harris was also a founding member of Berne's San Francisco Transactional Analysis Seminar, which met weekly for over a decade, and which developed the main concepts of TA. A Teaching Member of the International Transactional Analysis Association, Dr. Harris was an early advocate for group therapy
and TA in preference to traditional psychoanalytic practice
, for which he was trained by Harry Stack Sullivan
.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(born 1910, died Sacramento, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, May 6, 1995) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
who became famous for his self-help manual I'm OK, You're OK
I'm OK, You're OK
I'm OK, You're OK, by Thomas A Harris MD, is one of the best selling self-help books ever published. It is a practical guide to Transactional Analysis as a method for solving problems in life...
(1969). The book was a bestseller and its name became a cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
during the 1970s.
Career
Harris received his bachelor of science degree during 1938 from the University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
Medical School. He was trained in psychiatry at Washington DC's St. Elizabeths Hospital
St. Elizabeths Hospital
St. Elizabeths Hospital is a psychiatric hospital operated by the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health. It was the first large-scale, federally-run psychiatric hospital in the United States. Housing several thousand patients at its peak, St. Elizabeths had a fully functioning...
.
A US Navy psychiatrist for many years, Harris became chief of the Psychiatry Branch and ended his service as a commander during 1954. After that, he taught at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
, then worked as a senior mental health bureaucrat. He practiced psychiatry in Sacramento, CA.
Dr. Harris was a long-time friend and associate of Dr. Eric Berne
Eric Berne
Eric Berne was a Canadian-born psychiatrist best known as the creator of transactional analysis and the author of Games People Play.-Background and education:...
, the founder of Transactional Analysis
Transactional analysis
Transactional analysis, commonly known as TA to its adherents, is an integrative approach to the theory of psychology and psychotherapy. It is described as integrative because it has elements of psychoanalytic, humanist and cognitive approaches...
, beginning when both men were among the few psychiatrists of the US military. Dr. Harris was also a founding member of Berne's San Francisco Transactional Analysis Seminar, which met weekly for over a decade, and which developed the main concepts of TA. A Teaching Member of the International Transactional Analysis Association, Dr. Harris was an early advocate for group therapy
Group therapy
Group psychotherapy or group therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which one or more therapists treat a small group of clients together as a group...
and TA in preference to traditional psychoanalytic practice
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
, for which he was trained by Harry Stack Sullivan
Harry Stack Sullivan
Harry Stack Sullivan was a U.S. psychiatrist whose work in psychoanalysis was based on direct and verifiable observation .-Life and works:Sullivan was a child of Irish immigrants and allegedly grew up in an...
.