Dr. Raymond Corsini, considered the dean of American counseling and psychotherapy, calls Dr. Montgomery’s approach “the therapeutic system of the future.”

1. Why is the Montgomery approach to counseling and therapy called Compass Therapy?

2. What are the theoretical underpinnings of Compass Therapy?

3. Why is Compass Therapy unique?

4. How does Compass Therapy interface with other major schools of counseling and therapy?

5. Why are personality patterns harmful?
6. What are keywords related to these topics?

1. Why is the Montgomery approach to counseling and therapy called Compass Therapy?

Compass Therapy derives its name from the assumption that the compass-like integration of complementary opposites, whether in terms of personality or human nature itself, contributes to psychological and spiritual wholeness. As a personality theory the Compass Model reveals the major ways people become stuck in self-defeating patterns, while at the same time showing pathways toward actualizing growth.

For instance, choosing to move from dependent placating into speaking one's mind results in a freeing up of the Love and Assertion compass points. Or moving from controlling arrogance to genuine humility results in freeing up the Weakness and Strength compass points. Developing a rhythmic expression of all four compass points leads to liberated lives rather than imprisonment within a rigid personality.

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2. What are the theoretical underpinnings of Compass Therapy?

The theoretical underpinnings of the Compass Model derive from research at the Institute of Personality Assessment in Berkeley. The factor analysis of personality traits in a sample of over five thousand cases showed that two polarities form the core of personality. In collaboration with his colleague Dr. Everett Shostrom, Dr. Montgomery labeled these polarities as Love/Assertion, and Weakness/Strength.

Taken in the context of compass theory, these dynamic polarities help discriminate between healthy and maladaptive expressions of personality and relationships, making the Compass Model diagnostic and therapeutic at the same time. Over eight hundred studies in clinical, educational, and religious settings have corroborated the growth psychology that undergirds Compass Therapy.

Personality research based on symbolizing the self as a circle divided into four quadrants began over a hundred years ago. Researchers have referred to the model variously as the Mandala, the Actualizing Model, the Interpersonal Circle, or the Circumplex Model.

Dr. Montgomery has coined the terms “Compass Therapy” and “Self Compass,” not only because the theoretic constructs of the Compass Model resemble physical compasses, but also because the compass metaphor is easily understood by people of every culture.

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3. Why is Compass Therapy unique?

Compass theory understands personality health and maladaptive behavior through both the qualitative analysis of empirical research and the dynamics of Jesus’ personality as revealed in the Gospel narratives. The application of compass theory to the world of theology is called Compass Psychotheology and helps to answer many people's desire for spiritual meaning beyond what behavioral science alone can offer.

On the other hand, Compass Therapy makes a contribution to clinical and counseling psychology by framing eight of the major personality disorders found in DSM-IV in an entirely new way. Most therapists agree that it is difficult to remember these disorders, let alone know how to treat them. But the Compass Model suggests that each disorders has a logic behind it: the personality rigidity and constriction that reflects being stuck on particular compass points.

In terms of the Love/Assertion polarity, the Histrionic and Dependent disorders feature characteristics that emerge from being stuck with too much love, while the Antisocial and Paranoid disorders arise from too much anger. On the Weakness/Strength polarity, the Avoidant and Schizoid disorders are frozen on the weakness compass point with too much helplessness, while the Narcissistic and Compulsive disorders are stuck on strength compass point with too much control.

This mapping of personality disorders around the Self Compass makes for easy remembrance and generates intuitive treatment strategies designed to move counselees from the exaggeration of one or more compass points to the rhythmic and healthy balance of a whole Self Compass. The larger message is that using all four compass points promotes mental and relational health, and helps to diminish anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of personality fragmentation.

Further, because Compass Therapy stands on the two legs of psychology and spirituality, the personality disorders are viewed as "growth disorders" or simply "personality patterns" that can be transformed through the healthy development of personality. This helps to augment DSM-IV's operational definitions of disorders with a Compass Model for actualizing growth.

Because of the Compass Model’s broad scope, books on Compass Therapy, The Self Compass, and Compass Psychotheology are used in university and seminary courses that include theories of counseling, theories of personality, marriage and family counseling, religion and human behavior, pastoral counseling, pastoral psychotherapy, pastoral ministry, and spiritual formation.

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4. How does Compass Therapy interface with other major schools of counseling and therapy?

Compass Therapy is an eclectic approach to therapeutic psychology that integrates principles from a range of counseling theories that include psychoanalysis, Gestalt, transactional analysis, existential-humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral. By the same token, the central tools of Compass Therapy, most notably the Self Compass (Love and Assertion, Weakness and Strength) and the Human Nature Compass (Mind and Heart, Body and Spirit) enrich any therapist's repertoire.

Much like a cross-platform operating system, Compass Therapy provides a set of principles that are easily employed by practitioners of any counseling theory. These principles suggest that: self-actualization has both intrapsychic and interpersonal dimensions; spiritual faith strengthens people's emotional resiliency; a therapist engages a counselee not only in a role, but as a fellow human being; and a therapist should not overly focus on dysfunction, but give equal time to the development of a counselee's caring and courage, self-esteem and humility.

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5. Why are personality patterns harmful?

A personality pattern is a set of manipulative behaviors stemming from unconscious assumptions that directly affect how individuals perceive, think, feel, and act. Personality patterns left unchecked can undermine and even destroy one's prospect for a healthy personality and fulfilling relationships.

As understood within compass theory, personality patterns are autonomous complexes that represent misguided attempts at self-actualization. Every rigid pattern begins with a person's effort to overcome anxiety and survive in a world that is perceived as threatening. Whether the person learned to withdraw from people, move aggressively against people, feel superior to others, or become overly dependent upon people's approval, all of these patterns prove self-defeating in the end.

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6. What are keywords related to these topics?

Personality, personality disorders, DSM-IV, compass therapy, self compass, compass model, compass theory, compass psychotheology, dan montgomery, actualizing, counseling theories, psychology, spirituality, and behavioral science.

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