Philosophy

Philosophy in therapy, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk, Dublin

What is the significance of philosophy to mental health services and therapy? The answer is actually quite simple, before the 19th century there was no such discipline in the west as “psychology”, the discussion of mental health type issues fell under philosophy.

Between 300 and 400 BC the Ancient Greek Philosopher Plato created a working model of the mind, far pre dating that of Freud. Around 1000 AD the Muslim Scolar Ibn Sina wrote the famous “floating man” thought experiment to examine consciousness, and Chinese psychology dates back to 4500 BCE.

Actually there is still a divide, Philosophers and psychologists see mental health differently. Psychologists tend to lurch towards cognitive psychology with its focus on statistics, “rats and stats”.  Philosophers tend to be more psychoanalytic and deductive.

Philosophy of the mind, in therapy Edinburgh, Glasgow, Falkirk, Dublin

Philosophical models of the mind tend to stay away from the medical models. R.D.Laing in particular condemned the medical or biomedical model as unfit for purpose.  Philosophical psychological methods avoid such biological biased methods and consider a range of issues such as social, theological, philosophical, developmental and psycho-dynamic.

Social Psychoanalytic, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dublin, Glasgow, Psychotherapy

The narrative and dynamic between people, couples, groups and organisations are often critical.

Just as developmental processes within the family can cause issues, so organisational and familial relationships. This is where codependency,  passive aggressive behaviour, manipulation and other issues come into play.

Values in life, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Dublin, Glasgow

There are many different sets of values that might be applied. Utilitarianism,  Moral philosophy,  religious values, social contract, eastern and western belief systems.

My job is to help the individual patient work within their belief systems, and develop their own personal system.

Therapist in Edinburgh

Stuart is a psychoanalyst, hypnotherapist, counsellor, psychotherapist, life coach, complementary therapist and multi faith practitioner. He is a member of medical, sociological, psychological and public health organisations as well as being well qualified as a therapist. Among other qualifications Stuart has a BA (Hons) Philosophy and Psychology.

We do not provide any form of conversion therapy. We are an inclusive provider, and we will work with you over the therapy process to ensure we are the clinically appropriate service for your needs and that working with your needs will be within our competency, and match our service specialisms

Qualifications to practice psychoanalysis and therapy

Stuart is a well qualified therapist in a range of disciplines. He is subject to voluntary regulation by the CNHC (the UK regulator for complementary health set up with UK support and funding) and is registered with both the CNHC and UKAHPP AR schemes. AR or accredited  register schemes are maintained by the professional standards authority (AR-PSA) for healthcare professionals not subject to statutory regulation.

Stuart’s training involved 3 years of post graduate training and assessment 1993-1996, This meant over 200 client cases (over 1,000 client hours) being assessed and all standards assessed by City and Guilds NVQ to level 4 TDLB standards. He has studied philosophy and psychology at university level including in his MSc Psychology, and a BA(Hons) Philosophy and psychological studies.

Philosophy that applies to therapy

Influences include but do not limit by:

  • Foucault
  • Nietzsche
  • Hume
  • Bentham
  • Kuhn
  • Wagner
  • Klein
  • Lacan
  • Jung
  • Adler
  • Taoism
  • Zen

Please note that in no way do we condone or associate with the more extreme views of Queer theory held by Foucault, Butler et al, which include concepts like removing age of consent and condoning incest.

Keywords
Psychoanalysis, counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, talking therapy, listening skills, hypnosis, cognitive behavioural analysis therapy, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, counsellor, psychology, psychologist, hypnotherapist, Edinburgh, mindfulness, eastern philosophy, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, MBCT, MBSR, Mindfulness teaching, psychodynamic.

Contact via the contact us page HERE

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