“How are you?”

“I’m fine”

“Don’t you owe it to yourself to be better than just fine?”

YES, you do.

….so, what is this?

Philosophical life coaching is life coaching informed through philosophy.

But what is philosophy and how can that help me?

Simply translated, philosophy means “the love of wisdom”. To gain real wisdom about ourselves we need to lean into our natural capacity for reflection and reasoning. This is the reason why combining coaching and philosophy is so powerful.

In the classical world, philosophy was never an opaque discipline. It was a tool kit designed to help people to live well, particularly during more difficult periods of life. The point of philosophy today remains the same: to answer the “big questions” that are at the heart of the human condition.

Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were the world’s first life coaches, psychotherapists and psychologists. A central theme for them all was “what makes a good life”. They asked questions that made people think for themselves; they wanted to really understand what made people flourish.

Key to flourishing is authenticity. Authenticity means being the author of one’s own existence.

Philosophical life coaching helps you make sense of you and your needs.

It can help you with:

  • Understanding the limiting central story you are telling yourself and what impact that is having on your life - for example:- “I’m not good enough”; “I’m a failure”; “Everyone is ahead of where I am”; or “Why am I not fulfilled?”;

  • Moving through a professional or personal transition;

  • Eliciting clarity on identity and self-image;

  • The reason you are still people pleasing;

  • Finding your meaning and purpose; and

  • Understanding your values and core beliefs

It is similar to life coaching, but whereas life coaching tends to be more practical and goal driven, philosophical coaching is grounded in ancient wisdom and teaches you to think critically and to reflect deeply. It is empowering beyond the sessions because it gives you an autonomous and independent way of thinking.

Who am I?

Credentials

I received my undergraduate degree in BA (Hons) in Philosophy from the University of Sheffield.

I am a Certified Integrative Coach having completed an evidence based Accredited Certificate in Integrative Coaching with the School of Positive Transformation over the course of two years.  I am also trained as a philosophically informed life coach.

Mentor for the 10,000 Black Interns Programme.

I am a lawyer in the City of London and have practiced law for over 15 years.

I am a mother of two school age children.

My Why

“Who you are is how you coach” so here’s a little about me.

I was drawn to the study of philosophy before both law and coaching. My love affair with philosophy began at the age of 15 when I successfully campaigned to have philosophy taught as part of my school’s A-Level syllabus. I went on to complete a philosophy degree and loved it. I was excited with the idea of applying philosophical thinking practically; that we could come up with our own “personal philosophy” which could root us throughout our lives.

After my degree I went on to study law and continue to enjoy a fulfilling legal career as a lawyer in the city of London.  My decision to become a philosophically minded coach alongside my legal career stemmed from my wanting to make an impact through meaningful work using a philosophical style of enquiry.

I am fascinated by the way in which people’s lives can be immeasurably changed just by taking the time to sit with themselves in order to figure out their meaning and purpose. I’ve seen my clients become more anchored, truly authentic, resilient and also caring less what other people think or expect from them because they have finally figured who they are and what they want.

Everyone has a story to tell and deserves to flourish within it.

My “Why” is to help you “Find the Joy in Being You”.

How can I help you?

Most important of all, my role is to listen with compassion and curiosity. I am in our sessions entirely for you and will always hold you in positive unconditional regard.

I believe people have within them a vast resource for self understanding, an ability to alter their self concept, attitude and self directed behaviour. These resources are much better tapped into with a “person centred” facilitative philosophical enquiry.

I will help you unveil your own philosophy or your “why”.

I move away from the idea that if you feel lost or “a bit stuck” that we can outsource “finding yourself” by solely consuming self help books or  listening to podcasts. Whilst I think there is an important place for these materials,  I believe that there is a “toxic positivity” to this consumption. In our culture, we have “an addiction to distraction” and ironically these well being materials can often act as a distraction. They prevent people from standing up to themselves and asking themselves what is really making them unhappy or how they be more than just “fine”. 

One-to-one philosophical coaching gets to the core of who you really are and what it means to be you. It is very much an “inside to outside” approach. 

It’s All About You.

  • "My sessions with Emma were...in a word. ..magic. She has a unique ability to always understand where I'm coming from, and to help me see through the fog of where I am going. The philosophical lens through which Emma coaches brought questions I hadn't really asked myself ever before: "what am I really about?", "what do I stand for?" and then guided me to use this as my 'north star' in my role as advisor, manager and leader. After my sessions with Emma I truly believe that almost all professional challenges can be overcome by first looking inside. Emma has also helped me to connect with myself, and to bring who I found into my role in a confident, calm and emboldened way. I can't recommend her coaching enough. I am incredibly grateful for her time and in particular for the sensitive and compassionate way in which she guided me through difficult topics (of which we had a few!). She is incredibly perceptive and strikes an effective balance between being direct yet gentle with her questioning. Emma is careful to always put the onus on me, making it clear that she is facilitating rather than leading my process, but her questions and feedback help me to get clarity in ways I really struggle to do alone (or with other coaches, to be very honest). I think we have a great rapport and connection which allows me to feel I can be open and vulnerable and I feel safe knowing Emma will not judge me. I believe that people come into your life at a certain time for a reason, and I am incredibly grateful for Emma coming into my life when she did. I can highly recommend her as a coach, particularly to anyone seeking clarity within themselves”

    Josephine Hopkins (Deputy General Counsel - Just Eat)

  • "Emma’s existential coaching and empathetic style has give me so much clarity on how to make decisions in both my career and personal life. She has a unique ability to shine a spotlight on issues that were right in front of me, but that I couldn’t see were holding me back. Emma makes you feel like you can things you never believed were possible and gave me the confidence to step into out of comfort zone. She helped me identify what I value in life so I can moved forward. I cannot recommend her highly enough as an incredibly talented coach".

    Jenny Chappell (Lawyer, BDB Pitmans)

  • "For years I had been stuck in a place of all-consuming regret. I’d reached 26 and not been able to shake the feeling or move on from what I had regretted seven years prior. My feeling was that I had missed out on my youth and all the experiences that come with being young while making no progress on my finances and job and everything else that comes with being an adult. I felt completely stuck and hoped that everything could magic its way into existence while being so stuck on how to make this happen, still dwelling so much on the past.    I had been given Emma’s number through word of mouth and decided I was in dire need of any help to change my situation was happy to gamble on any advice from others.   The work Emma has done with me has been literally life-changing. The phrase is brandished too much but frankly through her help I have been able to make very big steps to help change my life.   Never has my money been better spent.    The sessions are never a chore and after seeing results, become something to look forward to when you know they will help. Emma had helped me look at what truly mattered to me, not what may matter to others. There is normally some homework to do, and to change one’s life there must be a will to change, but it felt so much heavy lifting had been done with her help.    I now have goals and desires. A sense of direction I could not muster previously.    I still think about the past sometimes but am still working on moving as far away from it as I possibly can. The past may not necessarily be how we want it to be, but she was very good at framing it in a way in which there are parts we can take to make positive outcomes in the present and future.  I would recommend her to anyone.'"

    Graduate.

  • Whenever I feel stuck or a little paralysed by a challenge, Emma creates a safe encouraging space and gently guides me on my route through. She has an uncanny ability to make the complicate simple.She is an incredible listener. Her approaches one of care and compassion but she will also give you the gentle push, when needed..Her counsel and guidance has been incredibly valuable to me - both professionally and personally.

    Sally Bowers (Vice President - Design Development, Pandora A/S)

  • “Coaching with Emma came at the right time for me and enabled me to work through my thoughts as I made a significant change to my career. Emma has a very open and kind approach which enabled me to explore the depths of my personal and professional life helping to unlock what is important to me and how that can help shape my future. I felt safe and respected within the space and Emma allowed the conversation to take the direction that I needed whilst challenging me and providing support along the way. Thank you, Emma :)

    Cara Gill (Founding Director of International Charity, Mentor and Charity Coach)

If you don’t ask..

  • Do you seek clarity around your meaning and purpose?

    Do you know what you value?

    How attached are you to the current version of your self?

    What regrets don’t you want?

    If you could change three things in your life what would they be?

    Do you have a key talent that you would like to explore more?

    Are you doing something in the present to help create an expanding future?

    Do you feel long-term commitment to your present occupation or field of work?

    Do you feel overwhelmed and unable to find the space to think about why?

    If so, I can help you. Imagine feeling:

    Authentically you and making good decisions through your values.

    Caring less what other people think.

    Being fulfilled personally and professionally.

    Having a true sense of your purpose.

    Being liberated by being yourself for yourself.

    Being empowered by your past and not hindered by it.

  • Therapy is a wide ranging concept which includes various approaches such as psychotherapy, counselling, and psychiatry. The primary focus of therapy is addressing mental health issues and emotional distress. Therapists tend to focus on the past, roots of trauma and how these show up for the client. The overall goal of therapy is to alleviate distress and to support clients in managing and resolving emotional and psychological issues.

    Philosophical Life Coaching helps people to gain clarity, self-understanding and insight into their values and life choices. As a philosophical life coach I encourage my clients to focus on the present and the future (only dipping into the past so that I can understand my client’s whole story). My aim is to promote personal growth, decision-making through critical thinking and ultimately making a meaningful and fulfilling life for my clients.

  • I offer a completely free of charge and no obligation 45 minute call to get to know one another.

    The amount I charge depends on whether I am providing corporate or personal coaching, and also the length of time we work together. I prefer not to discuss my fees until we have had our initial call. I will put together a fee structure at the end of our first meeting and we take it from there.

  • No, you absolutely do not need to have studied philosophy to benefit from philosophical coaching. It can benefit people from any background and at any stage of their life.

  • Philosophical coaching can be particularly beneficial for executives. It provides tools to enhance leadership skills, decision-making, and overall effectiveness in executive roles. Below are some examples of how this could work:-

    1. Critical Thinking: Philosophical coaching encourages executives to engage in critical thinking and philosophical reflection. This helps develop a deeper understanding of complex issues, assess situations from different angles, and make more informed decisions.

    2. Ethical Leadership: Philosophical coaching can assist executives in exploring ethical dilemmas and moral considerations in their decision-making processes. It enables an alignment with leadership and values, promoting ethical behavior within organisations.

    3. Self-Awareness: By examining beliefs, values, and personal philosophies, executives can gain greater self-awareness. This self-awareness can help understand strengths, weaknesses leading to improved self-leadership and emotional intelligence.

    4. Problem Solving: Philosophical coaching equips executives with skills to approach problems and challenges in a systematic and logical manner.

    5. Effective Communication: Philosophical dialogues can enhance an executive's communication skills. The ability to articulate thoughts and ideas clearly, engage in constructive debates, and actively listen to others can foster better teamwork and collaboration.

    6. Adaptability: Philosophical coaching can help executives become more adaptable and open to change. Exploring various philosophical perspectives can better navigate uncertainty.

    7. Leadership Development: Philosophical coaching can assist executives in developing a leadership style, focusing on authenticity, and building stronger connections with colleagues.

    8. Stress Management: Executives often face high levels of stress. Philosophical coaching can help manage stress and maintain resilience by providing tools for perspective-taking, emotional regulation and what really matters.

    9. Value driven Goal Setting: Philosophical coaching can assist executives in setting meaningful and values-aligned goals, which can drive motivation and purpose in their professional lives.

    10. Work-Life Balance: Philosophical coaching can help executives find balance between their personal and professional lives, ensuring well-being and overall life satisfaction.

    Philosophical coaching offers executives a framework for self-improvement, ethical leadership, critical thinking, enabling a more effective and purpose-driven role.

  • One -to-one philosophical life coaching for individuals and executives.

Let’s talk.

Interested in exploring philosophical life coaching? I offer a free no obligation 45 minute call to meet one another. Please complete your details below and I will be in touch.