The author recently spent part of a sabbatical from her university exploring the most current research on treating clients diagnosed with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). During the sabbatical, she was struck by how her own complacency had become unintentionally disinviting to her work with these clients, as she learned that preconceptions…

The value and importance of human intimacy is examined as a complex combination of passion, commitment, friendship, and love. Models of healthy and unhealthy conflict in relationships are offered as well as suggestions for moving from unhealthy expressions of conflict to healthy ones.

Proposes that invitational theory and Total Quality Management are not mutually exclusive approaches for education. Contends that, on close examination of the two, clearly these two philosophies share many common concepts and beliefs. Focuses on basic assumptions of both theories. Concludes that invitational approach offers feasible alternative to…

Explores the challenge of keeping parents involved in their children's education beyond the elementary school years. Suggests the invitational model as proactive approach for keeping parents involved in the lives of their children, particularly during the transition years of middle school education. As background, discusses nature of…

Introduces guidance system for the application of invitational theory. Calls system "Helix" because it spirals through 12 steps of development divided into three levels. Offers schema for examining one's own development as an invitational student, practitioner, and theorist. Provides impetus for further discussion about developmental levels of…

Reviews several approaches that have proven to be useful heuristics in college teaching, introduces a model for describing faculty development in teaching that incorporates many of the tenets of invitational education, and shows connections between this model and the earlier approaches described. Central message is that the act of teaching itself…