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