Who we are
(and who we aren’t)
We are psychoanalysts. We didn’t do a quick coaching certificate — we’ve spent years in deep study and practice. We don’t have decades of executive experience, but we do have over a decade of experience in the room with people who do. We listen and speak in ways that reach beneath the surface, helping leaders move through what’s stuck and into what’s possible.
Psychoanalysts are uniquely trained to understand what drives us, what holds us back, and what helps us thrive — in work and in life. We listen for what’s said — and what’s unsaid — to help leaders uncover blind spots, unlock potential, and lead more freely. We’re not just paying attention to behavior; we’re listening for meaning — the underlying patterns, assumptions, and tensions that shape how people lead and relate. We don’t just help you see more — we help you see differently.
How we work
(and how we don’t)
Our approach is informed by psychoanalysis. It’s not diagnostic — it’s relational. We believe many common coaching tools serve the consultants more than the clients. Delivering “data” with limited validity can be a way to manage the discomfort of not knowing. We sit with you in that not knowing to see what we might discover.
We’re not doing therapy or psychoanalysis with you, but we are thinking like psychoanalysts with you about your work in complex, competitive environments. The questions we ask help reveal what’s beneath patterns, tension, resistance, and possibility so that insight isn’t just interesting — it’s transformational. As thought partners, we don’t offer off-the-shelf fixes. We bring psychological depth and insight to support personal, professional, and organizational development — and your authentic leadership.
Not everything calls for what we do.
We’re here when it does.
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Founder
Dr. Joel Simons founded Mirae Leadership Advisory to offer an alternative approach to human capital consulting. He brings a psychoanalytic presence and perspective to executives who need a trusted confidant on their leadership journey.
He’s a psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice who trained at Harvard Medical School and Boston College, where he also pursued graduate studies in Leadership & Administration. He has held clinical and teaching roles at Boston College, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he served as Associate Director of the Faculty/Trainee Mental Health Clinic. He completed his psychoanalytic training at Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute, where he is guest faculty.