Don't Push the River by Barry Stevens

A cornerstone text of the 1970s human potential movement that offers a deeply personal blueprint for conquering the exhausting urge to control life's unpredictable outcomes.

This 1970 autobiographical journal records writer and therapist Barry Stevens’ three-month immersion alongside Fritz Perls at the Gestalt Institute of Canada. Stevens interweaves her immediate psychological breakthroughs at the Vancouver Island therapeutic kibbutz with reflective episodes from her earlier life, exploring how humanistic psychology mirrors the quiet balance of Zen Buddhism, Jiddu Krishnamurti’s philosophy, and traditional Native American spiritual practices. Her candid, first-person entry layout captures the internal wrestling required to abandon rigid social expectations and intellectual hyper-control in favor of body-centered self-awareness. Featuring her original calligraphic illustrations, this psychological classic serves as a practical, real-world case study for anyone seeking to integrate structured mindfulness practices into modern emotional healing.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Barry Stevens utilizes her extensive training in Gestalt therapy and Zen philosophy to offer immediate, real-world strategies for breaking free from destructive mental loops. Stevens provides a restorative framework for handling modern occupational and emotional stress.