Fr. Richard “Dick” McHugh S.J., Ph.D.: The Master Who Taught Me Myself

My mentor, my guru, my teacher, my friend.

Dick McHugh was all of this, and yet, none of these words feel enough. He was calm in chaos, wisdom in motion, and grace in the simplest of moments.

I have always been in awe of his presence, his intelligence, his composure, and the quiet way in which he held relationships. I would often tell him, “I want to age as gracefully as you.” He would simply smile.

An ocean of gratitude, that is who he was. And in knowing him, I slowly began to know myself, a journey I continue to live and express through my work.

The Day I Met Him

As I prepared myself mentally for a long session, he walked in, wearing a loose blue t-shirt, white pyjama, and sports shoes, a book in his hand.

I sat in the fourth row, eager yet unsure, stepping into a subject completely unfamiliar to me.

He was tall, I barely reached his shoulder. But what held me still were his deep blue eyes. There was something about his presence that made you pause, listen, and feel.

From that moment, I knew I was not just attending a session, I was about to experience something far greater.

More Than a Teacher

Dick was not someone who merely taught, he embodied everything he spoke.

There was a magnetic stillness about him. A quiet confidence. A way of being that made you feel seen without being judged.

The more time I spent with him, through nearly twelve courses across NLP and Gestalt, the more I realised:

I wasn’t just learning about psychology.

I was learning about myself.

From Scranton to India

Dick often spoke of his early life with warmth and humour. He hailed from Scranton, Pennsylvania.

“I was born with a sweet tooth,” he laughed. “As a child, I stocked my room with oatmeal biscuits, you could call me a hoarder.”

When I asked him about his birth, he smiled and said,

“March 11, 1930.”

“1930? So you’re 80 now!” I exclaimed.

He laughed gently and replied,

“Age is just a number.”

His journey to India began when he volunteered, along with fellow deacons, to serve abroad. He was ordained in Jamshedpur on March 24, 1960, a moment that marked the beginning of his life’s work in India.

Among Children, Among Life

In Chaibasa, Jharkhand, he served as a priest and teacher.

He taught Math, English, and religion, but more than that, he connected. He played basketball with students, laughed with them, and met them where they were.

He would fondly recall,

“The children would say, ‘angrezi samajh nahi aati.’”

And yet, he ensured learning went beyond books, making it practical, lived, and meaningful.

His command over Hindi, which he learned in Dhanbad, reflected his deep willingness to belong, not just serve.

When NLP Entered His Life

NLP came into Dick’s life later, around 1980.

Before that, he returned to the United States, served in pastoral roles, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Union Institute of Cincinnati.

But NLP changed something deeper.

“NLP gave me clarity,” he once said.

“It brought calm. It helped me deal with life in a healthy, grounded way.”

It became not just a subject he studied, but a path he lived and shared across the world, one that continues to shape the way we train and practice today.

Beyond Techniques: A Way of Being

Dick’s understanding went beyond frameworks and models.

He drew inspiration from Vipassana meditation, deeply respecting the teachings of S. N. Goenka. Through this, he experienced awareness not just as a concept, but as a lived reality.

He also integrated insights from Buddhism, Judaism, and Sufi traditions, allowing his spiritual understanding to evolve organically.

“Language has no meaning unless it is part of your experience.”

For him, learning was never intellectual alone, it was experiential, embodied, and deeply personal.

A Turning Point: Anthony de Mello

Fr. Anthony de Mello played a significant role in Dick’s journey.

Dick attended a course at the Sadhana Institute, where Tony was not just a mentor, but also a friend and guide.

“He was a noble man… and my boss,” Dick recalled.

Tony’s sudden passing shifted the course of Dick’s life. It led him back to the United States, where he deepened his academic and therapeutic work, eventually dedicating himself fully to NLP and mental health.

The Gift of Gestalt

Gestalt was not just a method for Dick, it was a realisation.

“The resources necessary to find your answers are already within you.”

Through this understanding, he not only worked through his own inner world but also helped countless others do the same, an approach we continue to carry forward through this work.

His therapy was not about fixing, it was about awakening.

A Life in Practice

Dick began each day with stillness, meditating, reflecting, and grounding himself before stepping into sessions.

In the room, he was gentle yet powerful. Sensitive, yet deeply perceptive.

Even those who struggled to express emotions found themselves opening up in his presence. There was an honesty in him that felt rare, and a humility that felt almost beyond human.

What He Means to Me

I have heard people say that Dick saved them.

And I know it is true, because he saved me.

With him, I could speak freely. I could be myself without hesitation. Everything I carry into my work today is, in some way, shaped by him, and continues to find expression through what I share.

He is not just a memory.

He is an imprint, etched deeply, like a fossil within me.

To him, I will always bow, with respect, with gratitude, and with awe.

Some people teach you what to do.

Rare ones teach you how to be.

Dick was one of the rare ones.

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