A Philosophical approach to Counselling
Welcome. My name is Matthew Bishop. I am a counsellor and philosopher. I offer a philosophical approach to counselling.
A philosophical approach to counselling is for the challenges of life. This includes the same issues you take to standard counselling - struggles with love, work, and happiness - and I draw on many mainstream counselling skills. However, this approach is also about your existential challenges. It is about developing your perspective. And it is about stepping into your better qualities. It is about putting your best foot forward in life.
That amounts to a transformative approach to therapy: I help you deal with your challenges through personal growth. For example, in the face of anxiety or depression, I would help you reflect more deeply on yourself and on life - for example on your fears, and on the nature of fear itself. Then we might work on improving your perspective, and drawing our your better qualities, to increase your wisdom, strength and freedom with regard to your problem. For example, we might work on your sense of meaning and purpose, or your courage, or hope, your insight, or self-worth, and so on.
This is not done in a "step 1, step 2" kind of way, which almost never leads to deeper change in therapy, rather we will explore whatever is relevant at the time of the session, and subtly work away at these themes and this growth.
Philosophy is an ancient Greek word which means love of wisdom. Philosophical counselling is about reflection that involves both the head and the heart. It is about the love of wisdom, the love of life, the love of self and others, and so on. It is about living with a richness and depth of meaning. It is about creating a good life for yourself. It is the pursuit of these things in your everyday concrete life, with all of its hopes and challenges.
This is not a clinical mental health service; I do not provide assessments or treatments for mental disorders, which should be sought from a psychologist. What I offer is pure conversation. My role is that of a philosophical and therapeutic guide. That is a role where skill, knowledge and experience is vital; but so too is honesty and authenticity.
You can read more about my experience and work here, and about making a booking here.
During 2020 I closed my Carlton, Melbourne office. I am now practicing by video and phone only. In 2022 I plan to continue with video but to also see clients face-to-face in Castlemaine, Victoria.
A philosophical approach to counselling is for the challenges of life. This includes the same issues you take to standard counselling - struggles with love, work, and happiness - and I draw on many mainstream counselling skills. However, this approach is also about your existential challenges. It is about developing your perspective. And it is about stepping into your better qualities. It is about putting your best foot forward in life.
That amounts to a transformative approach to therapy: I help you deal with your challenges through personal growth. For example, in the face of anxiety or depression, I would help you reflect more deeply on yourself and on life - for example on your fears, and on the nature of fear itself. Then we might work on improving your perspective, and drawing our your better qualities, to increase your wisdom, strength and freedom with regard to your problem. For example, we might work on your sense of meaning and purpose, or your courage, or hope, your insight, or self-worth, and so on.
This is not done in a "step 1, step 2" kind of way, which almost never leads to deeper change in therapy, rather we will explore whatever is relevant at the time of the session, and subtly work away at these themes and this growth.
Philosophy is an ancient Greek word which means love of wisdom. Philosophical counselling is about reflection that involves both the head and the heart. It is about the love of wisdom, the love of life, the love of self and others, and so on. It is about living with a richness and depth of meaning. It is about creating a good life for yourself. It is the pursuit of these things in your everyday concrete life, with all of its hopes and challenges.
This is not a clinical mental health service; I do not provide assessments or treatments for mental disorders, which should be sought from a psychologist. What I offer is pure conversation. My role is that of a philosophical and therapeutic guide. That is a role where skill, knowledge and experience is vital; but so too is honesty and authenticity.
You can read more about my experience and work here, and about making a booking here.
During 2020 I closed my Carlton, Melbourne office. I am now practicing by video and phone only. In 2022 I plan to continue with video but to also see clients face-to-face in Castlemaine, Victoria.