Jesse S. Miller

Jesse Stephen Miller (1940 - March 29, 2006) was a psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist.

Education

 * Ph.D., Psychology, UC Berkeley, 1970s
 * B.A., Art history, Columbia University, 1961

Early life
After receiving his bachelor's degree from Columbia University, Miller worked as a salesman in his family's printing business. Later, he started his own advertising agency in New York City. After realizing that he disliked the aspects of sales and persuasion, Miller sold his company. In 1971, he enrolled in the psychology program at UC Berkeley.

Psychologist
Miller practiced a form of psychology known as psychodynamic psychotherapy, in which patients are encouraged to openly express suppressed feelings. Notable mentors and instructors included the late Margaret Singer, Ph.D., and Judith Wallerstein, Ph.D..

With Paul Minsky,  Miller taught a course in advanced hypnotherapeutic techniques, at UC Berkeley. Miller specialized in analysis of hypnotherapy, and wrote the article "The Utilization of Hypnotic Techniques in Religious Cult Conversion", in Cultic Studies Journal. . Margaret Singer and  Janja Lalich later referenced this article, in their 1995 book Cults in Our Midst. Lalich also used the article as a reference in her 2006 book Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships. His article "A Big Mental Health Problem: Finding a Compatible Therapist." in The Advocate was cited by the Institute for Social Services Alternatives With Singer, Miller served on the APA taskforce on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control, from 1983 to 1986. Other notable scholars who served on the American Psychological Association Task Force included Harold Goldstein, Ph.D., National Institute of Mental Health, Michael Langone, Ph.D., American Family Foundation, Maurice K. Temerlin, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology Consultants, Inc., and Louis Jolyon West, M.D., University of California Los Angeles.

In 1985, Miller served as an expert witness, in the case of "PEOPLE ex rel. ROSEMAN v. TRACHTMAN". Along with expert witnesses Margaret Singer and  Richard Ofshe,  Miller's affidavit stated that "Cynthia and Phillip were being socially, psychologically and physically restrained of their liberty by defendant." Cynthia and Phillip were the children of plaintiffs, who alleged that Rabbi Isadore Trachtman violated their liberties.

A fictional character loosely based upon Miller appears in the novel "Chaste Goddess," by John Joseph Schauer, who was one of  Miller's patients. The novel was published in 2006 by Booklocker.com

Articles

 * The Utilization of Hypnotic Techniques in Religious Cult Conversion, Cultic Studies Journal, 1986, Volume 3, Number 2, pages 243-250
 * Report of the APA Task Force on Deceptive and Indirect Techniques of Persuasion and Control, November 1986
 * "A Big Mental Health Problem: Finding a Compatible Therapist.", The Advocate. January 26. 1977, pp. 16-19 8.