Welcome. My name is Matthew Bishop. I am a philosopher and a counsellor, and I offer services as a philosophical counsellor. This website is a unifying directory for all my work.
I studied and taught philosophy at The University of Melbourne and elsewhere. However, I felt drawn to make a career as a philosopher who works one-on-one with people, to help them with the troubles and goals.
I am rooted in the classical tradition of philosophy that centres on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Such philosophy helps you become more wise, strong, capable, and good. That is to say, such philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. The fruit of such work is greater meaning, happiness, success, and flourishing.
Twenty years ago when I decided to become a practical philosopher, I took up studies counselling. The plan was to combine counselling with philosophy, to offer Philosophical Counselling. Today I am on the other side of that long journey, and work purely as a philosohical counsellor. On the way, however, I developed also a passion for psychotherapy in its own right, and so worked for years in mainstream therapy, alongside my continued philosophical work. That psychotherapeutic background is present in my work today: I possess also the knowledge and skills of an experienced mainstream therapist, and that is combined with my philosophical guidance.
Speaking with the experience of a mainstream therapist, people can greatly benefit from the wisdom of classical philosophy. Modern psychology and psychotherapy is an expression of modernity, and so it shares modernity's technological way of thinking. That can lead to inner passivity with respect to the intellect and will, the mind and the heart. Classical philosophy guides and challenges you to step more fully into your power at the level of the head and the heart, and to face life in that rich, meaningful, active way. For many people today, that is precisely what is most needed.
I see people by phone and Zoom both in Australia, and internationally. You can contact me at [email protected] What follows is a list of my services and current projects.
My projects and services:
Philosophical Counselling
I offer Philosophical Counselling. You can read more on another website. That includes an associated approach called Existential Therapy.
Character Formation
I am developing a new service called Character Formation. A person in ancient Rome could enrol in the school of a philosopher (such as the Stoic Epictetus), who would teach the principles of logic (reason, critical thinking) and coach the student in the development of virtue and character. This is a true education for life, for becoming intrinsically more capable of happiness, flourishing, and meaningful living.
Whereas Philosophical Counselling operates according to the model of mainstream counselling and so is more exploratory, Character Formation is directive; it is an education, and a kind of personal training. You can read more here.
I studied and taught philosophy at The University of Melbourne and elsewhere. However, I felt drawn to make a career as a philosopher who works one-on-one with people, to help them with the troubles and goals.
I am rooted in the classical tradition of philosophy that centres on Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Such philosophy helps you become more wise, strong, capable, and good. That is to say, such philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. The fruit of such work is greater meaning, happiness, success, and flourishing.
Twenty years ago when I decided to become a practical philosopher, I took up studies counselling. The plan was to combine counselling with philosophy, to offer Philosophical Counselling. Today I am on the other side of that long journey, and work purely as a philosohical counsellor. On the way, however, I developed also a passion for psychotherapy in its own right, and so worked for years in mainstream therapy, alongside my continued philosophical work. That psychotherapeutic background is present in my work today: I possess also the knowledge and skills of an experienced mainstream therapist, and that is combined with my philosophical guidance.
Speaking with the experience of a mainstream therapist, people can greatly benefit from the wisdom of classical philosophy. Modern psychology and psychotherapy is an expression of modernity, and so it shares modernity's technological way of thinking. That can lead to inner passivity with respect to the intellect and will, the mind and the heart. Classical philosophy guides and challenges you to step more fully into your power at the level of the head and the heart, and to face life in that rich, meaningful, active way. For many people today, that is precisely what is most needed.
I see people by phone and Zoom both in Australia, and internationally. You can contact me at [email protected] What follows is a list of my services and current projects.
My projects and services:
Philosophical Counselling
I offer Philosophical Counselling. You can read more on another website. That includes an associated approach called Existential Therapy.
Character Formation
I am developing a new service called Character Formation. A person in ancient Rome could enrol in the school of a philosopher (such as the Stoic Epictetus), who would teach the principles of logic (reason, critical thinking) and coach the student in the development of virtue and character. This is a true education for life, for becoming intrinsically more capable of happiness, flourishing, and meaningful living.
Whereas Philosophical Counselling operates according to the model of mainstream counselling and so is more exploratory, Character Formation is directive; it is an education, and a kind of personal training. You can read more here.