Editing Process-oriented psychology (section)

==Criticism and early controversy==
{{See also|Psychotherapy#General critiques}}
Criticisms of process oriented psychology include that the 'dreambody' concept and techniques are too subjective and overly positive.<ref name="Toub2010" />{{rp|56–60}}<ref name="Shafton1995" />{{rp|522}} Mindell's concept of the meaningful 'dreambody' has been criticised for coming 'perilously close' to psychologising every illness; Shafton values 'dreambody work' but cautions that body symptoms are ambiguous and may be a product of stress or denial as much as a message for growth.<ref name=Shafton1995 />{{rp|524}} 
Others have claimed that Process Work as a therapy is hard to define and has similarities with 'faith healing', raising hopes about the healing of physical illness (though it is reported that Mindell explicitly discourages this idea).<ref name=Schafer /> Like other transpersonal psychologies, process oriented psychology has been identified by critics as a method having 'a mystical or supernaturalistic application, theory, significance, or pedigree.'<ref name="Raso 1998">{{cite book|last=Raso|first=Jack|title=The Expanded Dictionary of Metaphysical Healthcare, Alternative Medicine, Paranormal Healing, and Related. Methods|year=1998|url=http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/dictionary/md00.html}}</ref> In 1997, a Japanese scientist involved in deprogramming members of the [[Aum Shinrikyo]] cult mentioned process oriented psychology as an example of recent psychotherapeutic paradigms that draw on Asian philosophy, Gestalt, Jung and transpersonal psychology, and claimed that, while 'these programs are not substantively dangerous', the methods may be used adversely and have the potential to be a form of 'mind control'. He then clarified that process oriented psychology was not amongst those that were dangerous.<ref>{{cite web|last=TOMABECHI|first=Hideto|title=An interview: A brain-functionalist who deprogrammed AUM's top leaders A Devastating Scenario: A Mind Control Society|url=http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/y.shimazu/epilogueDrT.html|work=Takarajima, No. 304, March 1997. Pp. 224-271|access-date=30 December 2013}}</ref> Mindell's (1993) book, ''Leader as Martial Artist'',<ref name="Mindell 1993">{{cite book|last=Mindell|first=Arnold|title=The leader as martial artist: Techniques and strategies for resolving conflict and creating community|year=1993|publisher=HarperCollins|location=New York|isbn=9780062506405}}</ref> has been critiqued as a use of Eastern belief systems to justify [[Capitalism|capitalist]] business practice.<ref>Frank, T. (1997). Why Johnny can't dissent. In T. Frank & M. Weiland (Eds.), Commodify your dissent: Salvos from the Baffler (pp. 31–45). New York and London: W.W. Norton & Company. (p. 39)</ref>

There has been controversy in the history of process oriented psychology in the US state of [[Oregon]].  In 1990, a [[Eugene, Oregon|Eugene]] newspaper, the [[Register-Guard]], reported that a planning permit application for the coastal town of [[Yachats]] by the founder, Arnold Mindell, was met with initial apprehension and fears of 'another [[Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh]]' although these fears were subsequently allayed.<ref name="Bacon 1990">{{cite news|last=Bacon|first=Larry|title=Yachats leery about Jungian psychologist's plans|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=4pF9x-cDGsoC&dat=19900303&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=17 November 2013|newspaper=The Register-Guard, Eugene, OR|date=3 March 1990|pages=1, 4A}}</ref> Twenty-three years later, in 2013, The Yachats Academy of Arts and Sciences invited Arnold and his wife Amy Mindell to offer a keynote lecture on their work on conflict resolution around the world.<ref name=Lincoln2013>{{cite news|title=Conflict Resolution and Open Forum Experience around the World|url=http://www.newslincolncounty.com/archives/90324|access-date=29 May 2014|newspaper=News Lincoln County|date=August 6, 2013}}</ref>

In 2001, a [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]] alternative newspaper, the [[Willamette Week]] guided by the complaint of a student, reported that an Oregon school of process oriented psychology, (one of 26 worldwide schools of process oriented psychology), the Process Work Center of Portland (now known as the Process Work Institute) was being investigated by the [[Oregon Office of Degree Authorization]] (ODA) due to a complaint by a student and an anonymous letter with the primary complaint that teachers in the Masters in Process Work shared student information inappropriately, and that relationship and sexual boundaries were not clear between students.'<ref name=Schafer>{{cite news|last=Shafer|first=David|title=Dream Academy: and you thought your degree was useless|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-285-dream_academy.html|access-date=17 November 2013|newspaper=Willamette Week|date=29 August 2001|pages=18–21}}</ref> Some allegations were not verified while others were "substantially correct". ODA recommended improvements in privacy policies and dual relationship policies between students and faculty. PWI complied with changes requested during the investigation and the degree remained continuously authorized by the state of Oregon degree authorization office. The Process Work Institute does not have regional accreditation and does not participate in DOE Title IV lending. Small schools in the Pacific NW are not eligible for regional accreditation unless they have 300 or more active students. PWI is currently pursuing national accreditation which is allowed in the US for smaller schools.  Other schools of Process Work internationally such as in Switzerland, Poland, the UK, and Australia have been able to become accredited either regionally, nationally, or by psychological professional accrediting boards. The ODA website shows that in 2014 the Process Work Institute is authorised as a degree offering institution and lists PWI as one of the unaccredited private colleges approved for students in Oregon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Office of Degree Authorisation|title=Private and out-of-state colleges approved for Oregon students|url=http://oregonstudentaid.gov/oda-degree-authorization-academic-programs-approved.aspx|publisher=Oregon Student Access Commission|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>