Benefits FAQ

Doing what you've always done is good enough, if you're comfortable with where you are. Being brave to take on coaching is the first step in seeing that where you are is NOT enough: that staying still is not an option for you. Jump to the next level and work with a coach that challenges what you've put up with.

No big deal: you don't need to. We hear the terms existential crisis and existential threat in news broadcasts & podcasts all the time - listen out for it, and judge what's meant. Then bring that to our sessions. Those terms generally mean things aren't looking good. Between us you'll not only come to a personal understanding of the concept of existence, you'll embrace it!

Obviously, this depends on the types of coaching conversations you've had up to now. But Existential Coaching is NOT for you if you just want to be better at your job. There's more at stake in our conversations - like what does your work-life mean, what's your purpose in being here, where does my being-here fit in the fundamental scheme of things?

If you can ask, and to a certain extent answer, tough questions like "What's my purpose in life? Why do I exist?" then you can tackle pretty much any challenge thrown at you, in and out of work. Assuming you need to be tough to be in the situation you're in, why not get comfortable with confronting your own existential crises and existential threats and channel that new-found courage & fluency back at the challenges you're facing? Better still, do everyone a favour and find out whether the job is still relevant to you.

CPD is supposed to be an enjoyable Continuing Professional Development process, one that leads you down a path self-improvement to discover new capabilities, talents and motivations. On second thoughts, maybe don't tell your boss about Existential Coaching as a CPD option, as they're probably going to wonder why you're undertaking it and not them. Let's keep it between us. You can tell them you don't think they've got what it takes.

I can't believe this question has made it into this FAQ list of benefits. Existential Coaching has nothing to do with being academic! If, as a result of our sessions together, you end up being able to hold down a conversation about some obscure ancient philosopher - about how this philosopher has opened up a whole new universe for you - and your peers start calling you academic, then I apologise in advance.

As the saying goes, You can't change with world with ideas alone: but without ideas you can't change the world. Cherish the fact that you work for an organisation that  not only champions your professional development, but one that encourages you to come up with some of those new ideas. We live in perilous times, and the complex and subtle problems we face require complex and subtle solutions. Your organisation needs people like you to think complex and subtle thoughts. You work for a pretty progressive organisation if that's the case.

If you could AI-model this future investment to within a whisker's breadth, cut to the chase of all those conversations and cash-out now on all the advantages it'll bring, you wouldn't need to undertake Existential Coaching at all, and will have saved yourself and your organisation time and money. Boom! Result! Maybe this type of coaching isn't for you after all. Maybe you're not up for looking at your existence head on, in the autumn of your career, when there's always retirement to do this.

Goodness - do you really want someone, on a Thursday afternoon, telling you that you make no sense outside of your context? How many times can you tolerate being asked what makes you, you? Who cares that ancient Chinese philosophy actually rewires your brain? I've been at precisely these questions for 40 years. Because I want to give back, between us we'll have some fun and you'll have learned to see the world anew. All of this via a millennia of new perspectives gained from my uniquely unobtainable pack of Philosophy Cards that you can continue to make friends with. Book that free First Get Together with me.

I always tell people, Deep down I'm very shallow. That's because there's no such thing as deep. Deep is exotic and alluring, yes, but it takes a lot of effort to maintain. You already have all you need without a deep: you're amazing as you are and not missing anything - except perhaps a reminder that it's all here for you right now in the quotidian (such a great word).