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. Ultimately, as the Buddha reminds us, we are all overtaken by old age, sickness, and death. 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.
World wisdom traditions such as Stoicism, Buddhism, and Taoism and philosophies such as Existentialism offer an alternative (and complementary) healing pathway. Unsurprisingly, then, many modern psychotherapies have integrated pieces of ancient wisdom and philosophical traditions (see below). However, in translating these wisdom systems into a modern secular vocabulary much has been lost. Metaphysical questions involving the meaning of life, the status of moral truth, the nature of the soul, and the freedom of the will are as out of place in the modern therapy room as is reference to Freud. But it is not clear anything of lasting therapeutic importance can be achieved without a thorough investigation of these and similar topics.
Wisdom and Psychotherapy
It is not often pointed out that the “psyche” in psychotherapy means “soul.” By their very nature, the problems of the human soul are ill-treated by pharmaceutical interventions. Not that these don’t have a place, especially in conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But the majority of the conditions that confront us—despair, anxiety, trauma, grief—are as old as humanity. So is the wisdom required to address these.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Aristotle 
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. It was the ancient Greeks in general and Aristotle in particular who emphasized the role that virtue (arete) plays in our happiness (eudaimonia).
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 Buddhism 
Mindfulness, which has come to play a huge role in contemporary psychotherapy, is a translation of the Pali word “sati,” which is one (and only one) of the eight-fold path of Buddhism. But mindfulness cannot be fully understood in isolation from the system it involved out of.
How I can help
The problems we confront today—anxiety, depression, trauma, grief—are as old as humanity. So is the wisdom that will help you deal with them. As a philosopher and psychotherapist, I combine ancient insight with evidence-based practices such as ACT and CBT. Your struggle deserves to have all the resources available, past and present, brought to bear on it. Why not reach out for a free consultation?.
Ancient Wisdom for Troubled Times
“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 my book, Don’t Worry, Be Stoic: Ancient Wisdom for Troubled Times).