Philosophical Counselling
Welcome. My name is Matthew Bishop. I am both a philosopher, and a counsellor and psychotherapist. I combine the two in a practice known as Philosophical Counselling. I see people by Zoom and phone in Australia, and internationally.
Philosophy is the effort you make to become more wise. It is also to cultivate the emotions and actions which match that wisdom.
Psychotherapy is the art of recognising your emotional and behavioural patterns, and reshaping them for the better.
Philosophical counselling is focused on cultivating wisdom for living well, and the associated emotional and behavioural changes. Wisdom means seeing with clarity, depth, and in ways that make life better. For some clients, this is the essence and scope of philosophical counselling. For others, we draw also on the psychological insights and skills of psychotherapy, to create a powerful alternative to mainstream counselling. Hence, philosophical counselling takes several forms. See below for more details on some of the services I offer.
Philosophy is the effort you make to become more wise. It is also to cultivate the emotions and actions which match that wisdom.
Psychotherapy is the art of recognising your emotional and behavioural patterns, and reshaping them for the better.
Philosophical counselling is focused on cultivating wisdom for living well, and the associated emotional and behavioural changes. Wisdom means seeing with clarity, depth, and in ways that make life better. For some clients, this is the essence and scope of philosophical counselling. For others, we draw also on the psychological insights and skills of psychotherapy, to create a powerful alternative to mainstream counselling. Hence, philosophical counselling takes several forms. See below for more details on some of the services I offer.
Philosophical counselling as Pure reflection
The first form of philosophical counselling I offer is pure reflection.
Many people who come to me are not looking to solve problems, so much as to have in-depth conversations that shed a light on their concerns, and deepen their understanding and wisdom about life. This form of philosophical counselling is:
I bring the reflective skills of a philosopher, and the accumulated insights of philosopy, to help you reflect well and deepen your wisdom about life and your concerns.
The first form of philosophical counselling I offer is pure reflection.
Many people who come to me are not looking to solve problems, so much as to have in-depth conversations that shed a light on their concerns, and deepen their understanding and wisdom about life. This form of philosophical counselling is:
- a dedicated space for deeper reflection on your concerns, free from the need to fix anything
- an exploration of your fundamental questions about reality, life, the human condition, society, meaning, purpose, passion, your particular life, and so on.
- the cultivation a more true, good, and coherent philosophy by which to live
I bring the reflective skills of a philosopher, and the accumulated insights of philosopy, to help you reflect well and deepen your wisdom about life and your concerns.
Philosophical counselling as an alternative to mainstream therapy
Other people seek philosophical counselling as an alternative to mainstream therapy.
I help with the same problems you would take to therapy: emotional struggles, behavioural problems, relationship issues, work issues, life transitions, grief and loss, and so on. I do this by helping you cultivate wisdom, and the emotional and behavioural change which reflects that wisdom (in philosophy this is "the cultivation of the virtues"), as well as the psychological self-awareness and change you need. By means of this combination of philosophical and psychological work, I help you to:
That is not a random list, rather these are the age-old benefits of the cultivation of wisdom and virtue.
Other people seek philosophical counselling as an alternative to mainstream therapy.
I help with the same problems you would take to therapy: emotional struggles, behavioural problems, relationship issues, work issues, life transitions, grief and loss, and so on. I do this by helping you cultivate wisdom, and the emotional and behavioural change which reflects that wisdom (in philosophy this is "the cultivation of the virtues"), as well as the psychological self-awareness and change you need. By means of this combination of philosophical and psychological work, I help you to:
- deal with your problems (emotional, behavioural, relational, career, et cetera)
- avoid the creation of new problems
- create a more strong, skillful, capable way of being
- become more rational and wise in how you navigate life
- develop psychological self-awareness and change
- become better morally, for your sake and others'
- become more inherently happy
- succeed and flourish in life (work, relationships, et cetera)
- experience greater meaning and purpose in life
- embody more profound forms of meaning and value
That is not a random list, rather these are the age-old benefits of the cultivation of wisdom and virtue.
Philosophical counselling as Men's counselling
One of my areas of focus when I worked in mainstream counselling was men's work. I came to view the classical tradition of "character formation" as more helpful for many men than mainstream therapy. This is more directive than the above services. It involves guidance, coaching, and accountability. It draws very explicitly on the continuous 2,500 year old tradition of classical wisdom and virtue cultivation. See here for more.
One of my areas of focus when I worked in mainstream counselling was men's work. I came to view the classical tradition of "character formation" as more helpful for many men than mainstream therapy. This is more directive than the above services. It involves guidance, coaching, and accountability. It draws very explicitly on the continuous 2,500 year old tradition of classical wisdom and virtue cultivation. See here for more.
It was while teaching philosophy at The University of Melbourne and elsewhere that I decided to become a philosophical counsellor. So I studied counselling to the level of a master's degree, and spent almost two decades working as a mainstream therapist (while continuing with philosophical work). I specialised in a therapeutic approach known as Existential Therapy. Today I work purely as a philosophical counsellor, and that is what I offer to you. This approach is unusual, so further below are some clarifications to help you know if this is the right kind of help for you.
Philosophical Counselling, versus mainstream Counselling and Psychotherapy, versus Psychology and Psychiatry: the differences
There are very important differences between:
- Clinical mental health professionals, such as Psychologists, Psychiatrists, clinical Social Workers
- Counsellors and Psychotherapists (often I refer to this as "mainstream therapy")
- Philosophical Counsellors
The defining feature of the first group--the clinical professionals--is their focus on the medical model (or paradigm or lens). Our challenges are seen as pathologies or disorders, and these professionals help by assessing, diagnosing, treating, and providing oversight with regard to such disorders.
With regard to the second profession, counselling and psychotherapy see our challenges as expressions of the human condition. The therapist's role is to help you develop your own insight, skill, and growth, in order to feel and do better in life. There is also a bias in mainstream therapy toward a focus on our psychological patterns. The form of psychotherapy in which I specialised is called Existential Therapy.
With respect to the third profession, my approach to philosophy is rooted in classical philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle). The essence of such philosophy, and so of my philosophical counselling, is the practical cultivation of wisdom and virtue. (A virtue is an emotion or behaviour which has been shaped by wisdom.) The further goal of cultivating wisdom and virtue is "human flourishing"--a good and happy life.
My service, which I offer to you, is the third one: philosophical counselling:
At the same time, I have a background also in the second: mainstream counselling and psychotherapy, and especially in version of that called Existential Therapy. When people want philosophical counselling as an alternative to mainstream therapy, I draw also on that background knowledge and skill. The service remains philosophical counselling, but it integrates philosophical and psychological work.
I have nothing to do with the first group: clinical professionals. I am not trained in, and I do not offer, any clinical services. I am qualified in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and not in Psychology as a profession. I have worked closely with clinical professionals in the past, so I have a more sophisticated understanding of their lens and way of working compared to most people, but I see things differently to them in many ways.
Why do I not frame myself as a mainstream therapist who is also philosophical? Why do I emphasise that this is philosophical counselling and not mainstream therapy? I spent years as a mainstream therapist, and know my way around the complexities of the field, which are not obvious to many people. A therapist operates in a wider social and legal context which gives them certain responsibilities. They must pay attention to certain things, in certain ways, and this means that often they end up not paying attention to other things. Those other things include philosophical goals. For me, those philosophical goals are central. My fundamental concern is growth in wisdom, and from my experience that is even more important than psychological work. I have the skills of an experienced mainstream therapist, but while that psychological work is often also a part of our work, nonetheless it is secondary, complementary.
It can be hard to know if this service is exactly right for you, but it is the same when it comes to choosing any helping professional. You need to try out a session or two, to know. If this service sounds right, or at least intriguing to you, I suggest you book a session or a few, and take it from there. I place no pressure on people, rather I emphasise your freedom to use this service as often or little as you like.