Purpose-Driven Conversations: An Interview With James Bitter

Abstract

James Bitter is a professor of counseling at East Tennessee State University. He is a Diplomat in Adlerian Psychology (National Association of Student Affairs Professionals, 2002) and a former editor of the Journal of Individual Psychology. Jim received a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from Gonzaga University and a master’s and a doctorate from Idaho State University (ISU). At ISU, he coordinated the first Conference on Adlerian Psychology, and later worked with the late Adlerian family and group counselor, Manford A. Sonstegard. In 1980, he became a member of Virginia Satir’s Avanta Network, a training program for therapists using her model. He worked with Virginia for 10 years as a trainer in her summer process communities and writing several articles and chapters with her. In the 1990s, Jim studied with the master Gestalt therapists, Erv and Miriam Polster, and later studied with the founder of narrative therapy, Michael White. This interview was captured while Dr. Bitter returned to Gonzaga University for his 40th class reunion. He shares insights from his life, career, and training.