Philosophies in Psychology

Therapy

Safety, Presence, and the Courage to Experience Truth

Finn Janning Ph.D. on February 6, 2026

Real therapeutic insight emerges when compassionate presence creates enough safety for lived experience to be felt, described, and known from within.

Real therapeutic insight emerges when compassionate presence creates enough safety for lived experience to be felt, described, and known from within.

Attention

When Others Must Confirm My Ego

Finn Janning Ph.D. on January 6, 2026

When attention collapses into the need for validation, ethics turns into performance—and we lose the ability to see one another truly.

When attention collapses into the need for validation, ethics turns into performance—and we lose the ability to see one another truly.

Attention

Praying to Our Screens

Finn Janning Ph.D. on December 20, 2025

In an age dominated by smartphones and identity performance, many forms of psychological suffering stem from excessive self-focus.

In an age dominated by smartphones and identity performance, many forms of psychological suffering stem from excessive self-focus.

Leadership

The Wisdom of Leadership and the Courage to Be Vulnerable

Finn Janning Ph.D. on December 1, 2025

The strongest leaders are those who dare to be fully present—open to discomfort, mistakes, and other people—because vulnerability makes wisdom, trust, and connection possible.

The strongest leaders are those who dare to be fully present—open to discomfort, mistakes, and other people—because vulnerability makes wisdom, trust, and connection possible.

Mindfulness

Break On Through: Mindfulness for the Creative Heart

Finn Janning Ph.D. on October 25, 2025

A playful and contemplative approach can help with overcoming creative blocks, restoring inner freedom, and reconnecting with what truly matters.

A playful and contemplative approach can help with overcoming creative blocks, restoring inner freedom, and reconnecting with what truly matters.

Wisdom

Spiritual Strength Requires Wisdom

Finn Janning Ph.D. on September 26, 2025

True spiritual strength is not about control or dogma but about wisdom that embraces both clarity and madness.

True spiritual strength is not about control or dogma but about wisdom that embraces both clarity and madness.

Loneliness

Why Loneliness Might Be Our Greatest Teacher

Finn Janning Ph.D. on September 18, 2025

Loneliness is not just something to be endured—it can be one of our greatest teachers. Faced directly, it opens the possibility for connection, creativity, and freedom.

Loneliness is not just something to be endured—it can be one of our greatest teachers. Faced directly, it opens the possibility for connection, creativity, and freedom.

Happiness

Camus and the Psychology of Meaning

Finn Janning Ph.D. on September 10, 2025

Camus teaches us that even in an absurd, indifferent world, we can cultivate resilience and happiness by actively creating meaning.

Camus teaches us that even in an absurd, indifferent world, we can cultivate resilience and happiness by actively creating meaning.

Attention

Cultivating Ethical Attention in Psychology

Finn Janning Ph.D. on September 2, 2025

True ethical practice in psychology begins with attention—the willingness to notice before we judge.

True ethical practice in psychology begins with attention—the willingness to notice before we judge.

Ethics and Morality

Rethinking Ethics in Psychology

Finn Janning Ph.D. on August 31, 2025

Psychologists don’t just need codes of conduct—they need the ethical courage to pay attention to what’s really happening in the room.

Psychologists don’t just need codes of conduct—they need the ethical courage to pay attention to what’s really happening in the room.

Wisdom

The Wise Tadej Pogačar

Finn Janning Ph.D. on July 28, 2025

In his fourth Tour de France win, Tadej Pogačar revealed more than athletic dominance. Through reflection, restraint, and emotional honesty, he showed something even rarer in elite sport: wisdom.

In his fourth Tour de France win, Tadej Pogačar revealed more than athletic dominance. Through reflection, restraint, and emotional honesty, he showed something even rarer in elite sport: wisdom.

Ethics and Morality

The Practice of Ethical Reflection

Finn Janning Ph.D. on July 16, 2025

A Personal Perspective: We can find our way out of ethical entanglements, like the fly leaving the bottle.

A Personal Perspective: We can find our way out of ethical entanglements, like the fly leaving the bottle.

Attention

Every Detail Counts

Finn Janning Ph.D. on June 30, 2025

This essay explores how radical attention, poetic memory, and ethical presence can guide not only writing but also therapeutic practice.

This essay explores how radical attention, poetic memory, and ethical presence can guide not only writing but also therapeutic practice.

Philosophy

To Die Without Rebellion

Finn Janning Ph.D. on June 16, 2025

Kierkegaard and Camus each pointed to some fundamental conditions of our existence. Life is about creating meaning. When one lives passionately, one can die without rebellion.

Kierkegaard and Camus each pointed to some fundamental conditions of our existence. Life is about creating meaning. When one lives passionately, one can die without rebellion.

Anxiety

Every Truth Comes After the Event

Finn Janning Ph.D. on June 10, 2025

In a world obsessed with identity and certainty, authentic living requires embracing life's unpredictability with empathy and openness.

In a world obsessed with identity and certainty, authentic living requires embracing life's unpredictability with empathy and openness.

Artificial Intelligence

The Myth of Instant Knowledge

Finn Janning Ph.D. on May 21, 2025

In an age of instant information, true wisdom demands patience, vulnerability, and the courage to embrace uncertainty.

In an age of instant information, true wisdom demands patience, vulnerability, and the courage to embrace uncertainty.

Philosophy

The Leader Who Forgot Why

Finn Janning Ph.D. on May 16, 2025

Personal Perspective: When leaders forget why they lead, philosophy becomes survival, not speculation. Only by thinking differently can we begin to act meaningfully.

Personal Perspective: When leaders forget why they lead, philosophy becomes survival, not speculation. Only by thinking differently can we begin to act meaningfully.

What if mind-wandering is not a flaw but a clue to living—and dying—well?
In Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, it reveals what happens when we drift too far from our own lives.

Personal Perspectives

We Might Teach Young People to Affirm Life, Not Just Cope

Finn Janning Ph.D. on April 23, 2025

Personal Perspective: Young people may need therapy, but they also need meaning, joy, and the courage to desire freely.

Personal Perspective: Young people may need therapy, but they also need meaning, joy, and the courage to desire freely.

Imagination

Wholeness Begins with Imagination

Finn Janning Ph.D. on April 16, 2025

Personal Perspective: What if healing isn’t about fixing, but about becoming someone new?

Personal Perspective: What if healing isn’t about fixing, but about becoming someone new?