Richard Olney (1915-1994)

Professional Life
Richard Olney graduated college with a bachelor’s degree just days before he turned 21. He spent many years teaching before he forayed into the field of psychology and philosophy. Although he studied Zen and hypnosis, he made his living teaching high school until he returned to college and to complete his master’s in English Literature. He took very few courses in psychology, but focused rather on history philosophy and literature. After six years of teaching, Olney enrolled in the navy and served as an officer for three years during WWII. Upon return home, he partnered with a business colleague and opened an advertising agency. Olney found great success in this business, but after 16 years, yearned to teach and learn. He practiced hypnosis for several years, and believed that the self was an instrument to higher learning. He was adept at developing self-awareness and employed several techniques to achieve depth of insight. Although there is little record of his teachings, the book Walking in Beauty, published by Rosyln Moore, presents a comprehensive collection of his theories and psychological beliefs.

Olney left his advertising agency and accepted a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, Olney practiced his hypnosis developed his philosophical ideas with Allan Watts, Fritz Perls, and Alexander Lowen. The theories of these philosphers, including Gestalt and bioenergetics, all influenced Olney’s own theories. After meeting Charlotte Selver and learning her somatic awareness techniques, Olney began to explore body awareness further. On his journey, he worked with Native American’s also, including Crooked Tail, a shaman medicine man. Towards the end of his life, Olney had the experience of studying with Akhter Ahsen, an Eidetic Imagery psychologist. His varied background and multiple psychological and philosophical approaches combined to become Olney’s Self-Acceptance Training.

Contribution to Psychology
Self-Acceptance Training (SAT), developed by Richard Olney, is a technique that allows an individual to come to a place of total acceptance. This place of peace is achieved when a person can be entirely comfortable with him or herself, and accept him or herself unconditionally without judgment and criticism. SAT integrates various theories and is based on a person’s ability to maintain awareness in the present state, with no regard to negative emotions that involve the past or future, such as worry, anxiety, fear, or regret.

SAT can be taught and applied in nearly any situation that presents itself. Using this form of self-therapy is an effective way for people to cope with stressful circumstances or to prevent relapse into the often overwhelming emotions of depression or anxiety. SAT is a powerful tool and people suffering trauma, phobias, and other psychological issues have found benefits from this form of therapy.