Who Created Intrapsychic Humanism?
Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D. and William J. Pieper, M.D. developed Intrapsychic Humanism.
How Did the Theory Develop?
Through many years of clinical practice treating children, adolescents, and adults, through in-depth scholarly study of theories and research in psychology, child and adult psychoanalysis, the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of science, through teaching, writing, and raising children, the Piepers came to feel that a better understanding was needed and could be developed about why people are not living the lives they want to live, why many people are unhappy in spite of their success in love and at work, and what can be done to help them. Over seventeen years they worked on creating what came to be a unified, comprehensive theory about the centrality of the caregiving relationship in both child development and psychological treatment, and they conducted a naturalistic clinical research project to demonstrate their approach in residential treatment of adolescent wards of the state (Pieper & Pieper, 1995).
This history is described in detail in our On Demand webinar, A History of the Origins and Evolution of Intrapsychic Humanism by Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D.
An in-depth seminar series on the theory of Intrapsychic Humanism, the Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D. Seminar Series: Intrapsychic Humanism Core Concepts and Clinical Applications is also available here On Demand.
About the Authors
Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D. and William J. Pieper, M.D. are co-authors of numerous articles and books, including: Intrapsychic Humanism: An Introduction to a Comprehensive Psychology and Philosophy of Mind (Falcon II Press, 1990), the best-selling parenting book, Smart Love: The Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Regulating, and Enjoying Your Child (Smart Love Press, LLC, 2011), and the popular adult self-help book, Addicted to Unhappiness: How Hidden Motives for Unhappiness Keep You From Creating the Life You Truly Want, And What You Can Do (2nd Edition, Smart Love Press, LLC, 2019). Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D. also authored two best-selling, award winning children’s books, Mommy, Daddy, I Had a Bad Dream! (Smart Love Press, LLC, 2012) and Jilly’s Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them (Smart Love Press, LLC, 2017), as well as The Happiest Preschool: A Manual for Teachers with Kelly Perez (Smart Love Press, LLC, 2024). She has written and presented on Inner Humanism® psychotherapy, and also on applications of the theory of Intrapsychic Humanism to teaching, parenting, foster care, the question of free will, and children’s dreams and fantasy life, among other topics. Many of her presentations and articles are available as On Demand webinars for continuing education credit here, and on her website, www.marthaheinemanpieperphd.com.
Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D.
Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D. is an author and psychotherapist who works with children and parents and serves as a consultant to agencies and other mental health professionals. She graduated from Radcliffe College and received her Ph.D. in clinical social work from the University of Chicago. She is a founding board member of Smart Love Family Services, for which she provides ongoing consultation and insight to the clinical and early childhood education staff. She also serves on the Board of the Intrapsychic Humanism Society. Both of these non-profit agencies are based on Intrapsychic Humanism, the comprehensive psychology of child development, psychopathology and treatment developed by Dr. Pieper and her late husband, William J. Pieper, MD.
William J. Pieper (1929-2014)
William J. Pieper was a psychiatrist in private practice for over forty years. He received his B.S. and M.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. He completed residencies in adult psychiatry at the University of Illinois Neuropsychiatric Institute in Chicago and in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Institute for Juvenile Research in Chicago. In 1975, he graduated from the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis with certificates in child and adult psychoanalysis. He taught at the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration and in the Institute for Psychoanalysis adult and child psychotherapy programs. He is a founding Board member of the Intrapsychic Humanism Society.