A trained philosophical counselor helps you through life’s big questions, like purpose, happiness, or moral dilemmas. It uses certified philosophical questioning methods to explore topics through engaging dialogue. It asks you to think and reframe, while adding new vocabulary to clarify ideas you can’t always put into words. As a result, you will critically examine the beliefs and values you hold to develop a deeper, richer understanding of yourself and your relationships. Philosophical counseling supports clients' growth and enrichment as they align more closely with their authentic selves.

Philosophical Counseling follows a strict code of ethics, parallel to physciological tharapists

Have you ever finished therapy and thought, " Great, but now what do I do?” Or “I can see my problems, but what should I do?” Then philosophical counseling is for you.

Philosophical counseling is ideal for people seeking clarity about their beliefs, values, or life direction, especially when facing complex personal, ethical, or existential questions.

It suits people who enjoy thoughtful reflection and want to explore the deeper meaning behind their choices, relationships, or experiences.

It is for anyone who wishes to engage with life’s challenges in a thoughtful, reflective way.

Philosophical counseling is not for people experiencing psychological distress. Challenging your views can add psychological weight as you work through philosophical questions.

Unlike most “life coaches,” philosophical counseling rests on a robust, academically rigorous philosophical foundation. And practitioners hold graduate degrees. It is licensed by the APPA.

My approach to philosophical counseling is grounded in phenomenology and care ethics. I help clients explore their lived experiences as they truly are, focusing not just on thoughts but also on emotions as important expressions of what matters most to them. Through attentive, compassionate dialogue, I create a space where feelings are treated with care and respect—recognizing that emotions can reveal deeper truths and guide us toward our authentic selves. Rather than imposing solutions, I support clients in understanding and nurturing their emotional lives as part of self-discovery. Through a hermeneutic process, I encourage individuals to become more open and honest with themselves and make choices that reflect their genuine values and sense of self.

Meaning of Life

If you are tired, burnt out, lost, or thinking there has to be more to life, philosophy offers frameworks to better understand your desires, relationships, and goals as part of a theory of a good life. These theories can help us better cut through the noise and see what really matters to us.

My approach combines phenomenology and care ethics to help you understand yourself more deeply. Through phenomenology, we explore your experiences as you live them, paying close attention to what feels true and meaningful for you. Emotions play a central role in this process—not as problems to fix, but as important signals that reveal what truly matters in your life. By treating your feelings with care and respect, we can uncover deeper truths about your values, desires, and authentic self. This approach supports your self-discovery and helps you make choices that feel genuine and aligned with who you are.

I have in-depth knowledge of and instruction around tones, specifically existential guilt as required for authenticity, and seriousness. This includes the difinative paper on seriousness in academic philosophy, and from it my book A Serious Dilemma for a Serious Philosopher.

Medical Advocacy

All of us will end up dealing with the medical establishment in our lives, whether for our own care or someone else. Unfortunately, this process is not easy and even harder when you are inexperienced. It is imperative you know your rights and how to navigate the medical establishment. This includes the emotional labor of receiving a diagnosis, dealing with incompetent doctors, or getting unclear results.

I can help untangle the maze of bureaucracy and advise you on when to challenge versus prepare for the next steps. I suffer from a chronic condition of my own and empathize with how frustrating and invalidating it can feel.

For over 15 years, I have worked in medical ethics both instructing future nurses and in the field. During the COVID pandemic, I consulted for the California Nursing Board as they established policies for nursing students, offering guidance on complex ethical decisions in a time of uncertainty.

Identity and Self-Expression

Often, before answering other questions, we first need to determine: who am I? How can I know what kind of job I might want or what kind of relationship will be fulfilling if I don’t know who I am?

I help clients understand and express their identities by providing a supportive environment for deep personal reflection. As a trans woman, I have firsthand experience navigating self-expression outside of traditional norms, and I bring this understanding to my work. I know the courage it can take to be authentic in the face of societal expectations, and I am committed to helping others find their own paths to genuine self-expression. My approach is intersectional, recognizing each person as a unique crossroads of identity—whether related to race, gender, sexuality, or other aspects—within the limitations of cultural institutions. By combining professional insight with lived experience, I help clients build confidence in expressing their true selves.