Roger Gould is an American writer, psychiatrist and authority on adult psychological development.
In his book Transformations,[1] Gould presents his view that adult psychological development consists of the "dismantling of the illusions of safety developed in childhood".
[2] Gould's theory suggests that these illusions are confronted in a time-sensitive sequence as one progresses through the life-cycle.
He was honored by The Smithsonian Institution as a pioneer in the field of computer-assisted therapy.
In both the book and online program, Gould suggests that the powerlessness people feel over their cravings to eat when they are emotionally upset is a cover-up for a deeper sense of powerlessness in areas, or "layers", of their lives not directly connected to eating.