The Portable Therapist

by Marie Lauver
(Memphis, TN, USA)

I believe The Portable Therapist qualifies as a meditation book because it requires its reader to do a lot of inner reflection which is meditation, for me at least.

For some people meditation is nature oriented but this book is marketed towards people who have general questions or negative views about themselves. The book promotes a philosophy that everyone has a power to find true happiness.

The reader scans through the table of contents for a question that fits their current problem.

For example "Who am I?". The reader is meant to reflect on the answer to the question - Lauver doesn't give a vague answer or one that's meant to wrap everything up. Instead she uses modern philosophy based on individual experience as a means to give an answer. The reader is meant to reflect and meditate on what it means to them.

I found this book extremely helpful. Normally I'm doubtful of self help or meditation books. But I found her answers and methods to finding a personal peace extremely helpful. I still use it when I'm in a bind or have a personal inner conflict that needs resolving.

I have a few problems though with the way she brought her spirituality into the responses. I'm aware that she wants the reader to come open minded. However I felt at times she was making personal assumptions about the reader's character.

Other than that I established a lot of progressive inner meditation from this book and I'd recommend it to a person who's unsure of where to start. This book is used by a lot of therapists - so that's a reliable voucher.