Life is Difficult
Life is difficult. We labor at often unsatisfying occupations and manage only to keep our heads above water. Romantic relationships deliver as much heartbreak as happiness. We suffer setbacks, as do those we love. The few pleasures we find offer temporary relief, but they are fleeting and often unsatisfying. We return to our life’s journey. Our useful ideals are unrealized. Our bodies betray us. And then we die. Amidst these fundamental realities, the modern psychopharmaceutical attempt to dispense medication in order to address what are the natural reactions to the human condition such as anxiety and depression seems like the proverbial band aid solution. What is needed is surgery for the soul.
Stoicism has been around for over two thousand years, assisting men and women from all walks of life in confronting personal loss, financial uncertainty, societal upheaval, anxiety, sickness, and death–the whole panoply of ills that afflict us. And Stoicism rarely disappoints, providing solace, consolation, perspective, and most importantly, wisdom, for generations upon generations of people who have turned to it in troubling times. This is doubtless the reason that one Stoic classic, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, remains on book store shelves millennia after it was first written. But though one often stumbles into Stoicism as a result of personal difficulties, just as regularly one stays with the system long after troubles have subsided. In the same way that it might take an illness to finally generate proper concern for our health, so also can the bad times which often bring us to Stoicism lay the foundation for a return to balance, perspective, and sanity in our lives.
Stoicism and Psychotherapy
Stoicism is an ancient wisdom system whose fundamental tenet-that it is our mind and nothing else that determines the quality of our lives-has been integrated into many modern psychotherapeutic interventions such Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness. But why listen to the tribute band when you can interact with the real deal?”
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Stoicism 
At the heart of the Commitment part of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a focus on values rather than the pursuit of pleasant sensations as the meaning of life. Although this distinction can be traced back to Aristotle, the Stoics were the first theorists in the history of the West to identify values as the sole component of the good life.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Stoicism
Both Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, the founders of CBT, openly acknowledged their debt to the Greek Stoics. Albert Ellis placed the following quote from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus on his home page: “It is not events that disturb people. It is their judgment concerning them.” Anyone familiar with CBT will recognize the relevance of the quote to the system.
Mindfulness and Stoicism 
Mindfulness, which has come to play a huge role in contemporary psychotherapy, is a translation of the Pali word “sati” and involves a conscious awareness of both our actions and our thoughts while they are happening, what psychologists today describe as meta-awareness. The Stoics were the first thinkers in the West to integrate this notion into a workable ethical system.
How I can help
More than two decades ago, I wrote one of the first books attempting to apply the insights of Stoicism to modern life (Don’t Worry, Be Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Troubled Times). The ensuing years have witnessed a veritable Stoic renaissance, with best-selling books such as How to Think Like a Roman Emperor and Ryan Holiday’s mega-popular Daily Stoic website.
But reading alone will not make you a Stoic, nor wishing it to be so. By integrating modern psychotherapeutic techniques with ancient wisdom, I will help you apply the insights of Stoicism to the problems you are facing in your life.
Why Stoicism?
You can be happy right now–regardless of your circumstances. You don’t have to lose weight, have money to invest in the stock market, or accept Jesus as your personal savior. What is required, instead, is one simple insight and the knowledge of how to apply this insight to your life.
Sound easy? Well, it’s not. The insight is one we don’t particularly want to hear, and the ability to integrate it into our lives will require patience, effort, and discipline. But if you’re willing to listen to some unpleasant truths and courageous enough to act upon them, this ancient wisdom system can not only be of assistance in getting you through whatever personal challenges you are currently facing, but it can also serve as a road map to a healthier view of reality and a guide to a more satisfying life. (from Don’t Worry, Be Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Troubled Times).