Statement of Philosophy

We live in a time and culture predisposed toward life at the surface. Ours is a society that privileges eternal youth and beauty, consumer-driven instant gratification, and narcissistic preoccupation with self-centeredness, not self reflection.  Many tend to be preoccupied with finding ways to be desired and having their needs met, over the simple notion of placing the needs of others before oneself. Like Narcissus we often look no deeper than the reflection in the mirror, seeing only skin-deep beauty, never daring to know our own—nor the other’s, inner depths.

It is no wonder, then, that we suffer greatly from losses in love and the inability to risk loving. Contemporary thought has attempted to respond to this cultural climate that, in the words of Stephen Frosh, “[fights] against the deepening of relationships [and love], against feeling real.” The practice of Jungian psychoanalysis, among other contemporary psychological and philosophical approaches have addressed the contemporary individual’s crises of the heart, separation from authenticity, and repudiation of the other.

I believe there is no more important work than this--the struggle to address this crises of the heart, to transcend the fear and isolation of self-centeredness and narcissism, and to awaken our capacities to love.