Curious Soul Philosophy Blog
It’s Not Just “Tough Coaching”
On misunderstanding the maltreatment of athletes. This post is part two of a series. In my last post, I talked about my experience as a young gymnast in the ‘80s and early ‘90s in training...
Just Another Day in the Gym: Normalized Maltreatment in Youth Sports
Growing up as a gymnast with a problem that had no name. This post is part one of a series. When I was growing up in sports in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, the only thing referred to as “abuse” was...
“Broken”: The Fundamental Damage Done by Authoritarian, Fear-Based Coaching
It’s time to listen to the athletes’ experiences and take them seriously. This post is part five in a series on the struggles of recovering athletes. I’ve been listening for some months in...
What Drives Authoritarian, Fear-Based Coaching
When the gym, the court, the field, and the pool become places of terror. This post is part four in a series on the struggles of recovering athletes. I’ve been writing a series of posts on the...
What’s Philosophical About Philosophical Counseling?
There are a few common questions I am asked by those who hear that I offer philosophical counseling and want to learn more about it. “What Is Philosophical Counseling?” is one, as is “How is...
From Perfectionism to Burnout in Sports
How Athletes Struggle With Impossible Expectations This post is part three of a series on the struggles of recovering athletes. In my last post, I talked about the struggle many athletes face, even...
When Your Worth Is Based on Your Medals
How Athletes Struggle With an Achievement-Centered View of Personal Value This post is part two of a series on the struggles of recovering athletes. In my last post, I talked about the loss of...
The “Olympic Blues” Run Deeper Than You Think
This post is part one of a series on the struggles of recovering athletes. An Olympic season is a difficult time for many former athletes who are coming to terms with the long-lasting effects of...
How Is Philosophical Counseling Different From Psychotherapy?
This is one of the first questions that folks ask me when they learn I’m a philosophical counselor. I’ve had my own ideas about this for some time (having spent plenty of time myself in both...