Philosophy Coach

Mind

Spirituality

Health

Mind, thoughts & beliefs
Personal identity
Consciousness & experience

Nature of life & death
Spiritual experience
Awakening & self-realization

Holistic healing therapies
Embodied wisdom
Cultural influences on health

What is therapeutic philosophy?

Therapeutic philosophy is the process of using ever-deepening insights into life as a way of improving your level of health and wellbeing.  It is essentially a journey of self-realization through health.

We all have our own philosophy for health - a set of beliefs, ideas, and habits which directly impacts our approach to wellbeing.  Whilst this usually operates beneath our conscious awareness, it can come to our attention whenever things seem to be going wrong in our life. So, whenever we encounter any type of suffering, from emotional turmoil through to an existential threat, there is usually an unexamined belief which is contributing to our distress.  By resolving these issues, we embark on a process of un-learning and letting go of unhelpful ideas, whilst simultaneously revealing the deepest nature of who we really are.

I believe that evolving wisdom is the central component of wellbeing.  It lies at the very core of being able to go through life with more ease, less stress, and greater levels of physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, and spiritual health.

Embodied wisdom incorporates the ability to see life as it really is, and to be able to navigate challenges more easily as you encounter them.  To become more centred in who you are, instead of being swept through life at the mercy of external forces. And to become aware of who you are at the deepest levels of existence, making a positive contribution to the lives of others, and creating a positive impact in the world.

So, in a nutshell, therapeutic philosophy involves improving your own health through knowledge, insight, and the application of what you have learnt. It is not just an intellectual pursuit, but is also the lived embodiment of integrating these insights into your everyday life.

Why for wellbeing service providers?

I work with all types of wellbeing service providers.  Including nurses, social workers, caregivers, health assistants, spiritual workers, coaches, all types of therapists, and anyone who provides support for other people.

The main reason for this is because healing practitioners tend to have first-hand experience of helping people with moving beyond personal suffering. This also means that they also hold an important position for positively impacting people through their health and wellbeing services.

In addition, people who support the wellbeing of others often have deeper questions about life and health.  Like existential questions about the meaning of life, why suffering exists, and what happens after death. Or health-related questions around social inequalities, ethical issues, or cultural attitudes. Or questions about the effectiveness of therapies, or why some healing interventions are socially accepted, whilst others are not.

Wellbeing practitioners usually have an active interest in exploring health, therapies, and caring for others. They are already committed to the process of exploring life on a deeper level themselves, and this automatically puts them in a better position to make changes for improving the lives of others.

How does philosophy relate to mind-body wellness?

The term philosophy simply means 'the love of wisdom'.  It is a word which is most commonly used in two different ways: First, to refer to your own set of personal ideas, opinions, and viewpoints. Secondly, as the active process of developing ever deeper insights into the fundamental nature of life.

Unfortunately many people mistakenly associate philosophy with dry academic pursuits which involve relentless arguing about the most minor details of life, but this is not an accurate representation. Anyone who is actively involved in the process of personal or spiritual growth is also on a philosophical journey - whether they are currently aware of this or not.

As someone who has studied both Eastern and Western philosophy, and with a particular interest in how it relates to health, I tend to work with people who are on a genuine path of personal or spiritual growth. Individuals who want to really explore the nature of mind, consciousness, wellbeing, and self-realization - without getting inadvertently caught up in unhelpful ideas, beliefs, or practices.

Our own view on the mind-body connection is central to how we approach health and wellbeing.  It affects everything - from our perceptions about illness, to the therapies we use, how much free will we think we have for change, and how we view life and death.

The path of therapeutic wisdom is not for people who want to go round in circles, getting caught up in their own ego, or who are consistently trying to prove themselves to be right.  It is a process which requires an open mind, non-judgement, and a desire to create a world where there is more health, happiness, and conscious inter-connection.

Embodiment and the three levels of self-realization

The ultimate solution to anything which is not working in your life is to examine it more deeply. Until you see it clearly enough that it no longer creates stress in your life.  

There are three levels of insight that we need to work through in order to experience self-realization: individual, collective, and existential perspectives. The individual level focuses on personal growth and self-awareness.  The collective level explores relational and cultural issues. Whilst the existential level deals with fundamental truths, spirituality, and the nature of life.

Most wellbeing service providers focus on improving individual and relational insights.  But once you reach a certain level of self-awareness, you begin to recognise that whilst there are many benefits to these approaches, they also come with limitations.  So, the ultimate solution lies in exploring the deeper levels of consciousness which are often associated with spirituality or awakening,

Unfortunately, the area of spirituality is a minefield to navigate through. It is filled with unhelpful ideas and practices which have no real relevance to understanding the nature of consciousness which lies at it's core. My aim is to take a no-nonsense approach to exploring mind, spirituality, and health, whilst helping seekers to find the answers they are looking for.