Thomas Whitehead

Thomas Whitehead entered college in 1964. He majored in mechanical engineering, but quickly realized he had broader interests. He began taking biology, psychology, and philosophy courses. A couple of years later he switched his major to psychology, irritating his academic advisor. Thomas has for most of his professional life worked as a mental health counselor. But he has also dabbled in computer programming and marketing of health and nutrition products. He currently works as a licensed counselor in Houston, Texas.

Thomas says "I’m not a card-carrying member of the scientific community, but I strongly believe in the scientific method." The main ideas for his Viral Schemes book series came out of his years of focus on psychotherapy clients. "A good number were people struggling with their own worst habits. I started to see something virus-like in their repetitive behavior," he recently remarked. "As far as my writing goes, my outsider status is probably a good thing. Psychology needs some fresh perspectives if we really want to understand consciousness." Some of his friends have jokingly called him a Mad Scientist. "That's ridiculous," he says. "I’m a Mad Philosopher."