The transformative power of philosophy has been my north star in both my intellectual and personal journeys. My mission is to bring my training in logical and critical thinking, alongside varied philosophical and wisdom traditions, to those seeking help with the everyday challenges of life. As a philosophical consultant, I bring my expertise into practice in the form of Logic-based Therapy and Consulting.
I’m Dr. Elena Lopez, philosopher, educator, consultant, wife and mother. For as long as I can remember, I have been a seeker, and what I have found is that more than a destination, the ‘answer’ comes in the form of a direction, and not an outer one, but an inner one.
More about me
I entered philosophy with some of life’s biggest questions—what is reality, what is the meaning of life, and how do I live my life? The responses came in the form of symbolic logic and more questions than answers. I hadn’t expected this, nor was I satisfied with it. On the verge of leaving graduate school, I found my way back to the heart of philosophy that I was seeking. And I found it in ancient eastern and western traditions. With the help of my late mentor, philosopher Jacob Needleman, and other deeply committed philosophers on the way, I found my philosophical home. Dr. Needleman’s wisdom and knowledge was surpased only by his warmth and service to his students. This was the first time I saw philosophy not only in writing—but in action.
I have been an educator in colleges and universities across the country for over a decade. However, it wasn’t until I became a mother that I discovered my formal education hadn’t provided all the answers that I thought it would have. As I entered family life as a wife and mother, the urgency of my own search concerning matters of life took on a new meaning—and a higher stake.
I went on a personal search, exploring domains spanning psychology and spirituality to expand my own understanding and living practice of how to do well in life—my life, not just a theoretical one—and to apply the ideas from ancient wisdom to everyday, modern problems. Informally, I immersed myself in attempting to understand the human pscyhe, this time not only from Plato, Aristotle, Kant, and Confucius, but from contemporary psychology. The sheer quantity of parenting-related advice quickly went from plentiful to down-right suffocating. The wisdom of philosophical traditions has shown itself to be grounding and practically helpful in everyday life.
Enter Logic-based Therapy and Consulting (LBTC). Based on Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), which is a highly reputable and effective modality for addressing depression and anxiety, LBTC is a pratice founded in psychology and philosophy, uniquely adapted for philosophers to use our training in logic and critical thinking, alongside our knowledge of vast philosophical ideas. LBTC approaches our everyday problems of living in a deeply humanistic way, utilizing logic and reasoning in connection with a growth of character approach in the form of aspirational virtues.
LBTC has allowed me to bring my educational and research background, as well as my personal expereince, into a methodical helping service for others. While LBTC cannot guarantee specific results, I do vow to bring my full presence and learning to our conversation for the sake of bettering your life.