Philosophy

At Arete, we strive to create a unique, therapeutic experience by infusing the clinical relationship with a humorous, direct and challenging approach.

We are committed to providing an environment where our clients feel understood and important. This allows us to work together to create effective and workable solutions to many of life’s challenges.

True change is possible!

We are dedicated to helping our clients experience this first hand through the following Arête values:

  • To prosper
  • To be honorable
  • To strive for excellence
  • To strive for fulfillment
  • To be effective
  • To be the best you can be
  • To reach your highest human potential
  • To maximize the mind, body, and spirit

Arête is a Greek concept which implies being the best that you can be or reaching your highest human potential.

The Greeks sought to extend themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually to reach their fullest human potential; constantly pursuing Arête – a quest for excellence. The best of Greek traditions – art, athletics, and philosophy – reflect the importance of Arête in all human endeavors; whether striving for perfection on the Olympic field or in simple every day tasks. Arête is a significant part of the paideia of ancient Greeks: the training of the boy to manhood. This training in Arête included physical training, mental training, and spiritual training.

Arête is frequently associated with bravery, but more often, with effectiveness. The man or woman of Arête is a person of the highest effectiveness; they use all their faculties: strength, bravery, and wit to achieve real results. Arête involves all of the abilities and potentialities available to humans. Arête suggests that human value and meaning is measured against individual effectiveness in the world. Arête is explicitly linked with human knowledge. Arête is knowledge.

The ancient Greeks applied the term Arête to anything – the Arête of a chimney, the Arête of a bull to be bred, the Arête of a man. The meaning of the word changes depending on what it describes, since everything has its own peculiar Arête.