Many in the United States know David primarily through his books and videos on music, and his media appearances involving massive "Three Minutes to Harmonica"(tm) teach-ins (some with more than three thousand participants at a time). However, world-wide he is better known for his work in training non-psychologists in the use of cognitive self-help techniques, as exemplified in books like The Three Minute Meditator, above, or Neural Path Therapy: How to Change Your Brain's Response to Anger, Fear, Pain, and Desire, or MetaPhysical Fitness: The Complete Thirty Day Program for Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health.
Since the late 1990's, David's main interest has been in how the brain response known as the "Fight or Flight Response" can be consciously controlled, and in how this can be simply taught to groups.
But, of course, rather than lecturing on the role of the amygdala or the parasympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system in this process, he has a rather more entertaining and interactive way of teaching the material!
David has been studying psychology since his undergraduate days at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. But his real fascination with that mutinous creature known as the human mind developed due to a number of painful, though fortuitous, accidents.
A near-death experience while rock-climbing stirred his interest in thanatology — the psychology of death and dying — followed by a in-service training at a hospital with pioneer thanatologist Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. After the sudden loss of one of his closest friends in late 1978, he began applying his knowledge of psychology towards working with dying or grieving people, and towards this end began studying cognitive psychology in 1980.
After five years, this study — and practice — led David to an experience that changed his life. In late January of 1985 on the fifth day of a ten day "Conscious Dying" retreat with thanatologist Stephen Levine and Buddhist psychologist Jack Kornfield, David glimpsed the nature of his own mind. Since then, both his passion and his mission have been to help others do the same. The fact that he generally does this through the metaphor of the humble harmonica helps keep him very down-to-earth, even if tv shows and feature articles sometimes refer to him as "The Harmonica Guru!"
David uses a wide variety of psychological, biological, neurological, and philosophical concepts and tools in his teaching. Very prominent amongst these are his somewhat unusual applications of a particularly important branch of psychology and a particularly effective form of therapy.
Cognitive science is the study of the way in which the brain functions and processes information.
Cognitive psychology is the study of how brain processes generate our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs, and the ways in which they affect our words and our actions.
Applied cognitive psychology refers to the way in which cognitive psychology can be applied to real-life situations and issues. When used to help individuals, applied cognitive psychology is often referred to as "cognitive-behavioral therapy," since helping the client to understand the ways in which his or her mind works is an effective way to change the behavior of the client. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is currently considered by many to be the most effective and fastest form of therapy.
The field of applied organizational cognitive-behavioral psychology, mouthful though it is, simply refers to the act of applying cognitive-behavioral psychology to organizations. Instead of just changing the behavior of individuals, "A.O.C.B.P." changes the behavior of both the individuals that comprise the organization, and the behavior of the organization itself. David literally teaches a group to be smarter and saner, to "behave better" and to be more effective!
For even more information on David's work, please visit www.thethreeminutemeditator.com.
A Few of David's Heroes and Other Sources Comment
on The 3 Minute Meditator and His Other Work
“Had this book been available 25 years ago, it would’ve saved me a lot of trips (!) of all kinds.”
— Ram Dass
“This book by the well-known harmonica teacher...is filled with deep insight...”
— Meditation Magazine
“A lovely book indeed. David makes good music.”
— Stephen Levine
“...cheaper than therapy, easier than living in a cave in the Himalayas, and it works!”
— Ben & Jerry
“Harmonica player teaches tunes while imparting life’s lessons...”
— Houston Chronicle
“Harmonica guru keeps his life in tune.”
— Washington Times
“The road to inner peace just got shorter.”
— Prevention Magazine
“David Harp...spreads the gospel of inner peace through music.”
— Burlington Free Press
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