Adrián Flores, PhD
Stop Perfecting, Start Becoming
In an age of plenty and scarcity, modern life has become unbearably exhausting. Never before have we had so many tools for self-betterment, yet the more we refine, optimize, and perfect, the more alienated we become. As old values dissipate, we are left grasping at fleeting certainties, trapped in cycles of striving without end. But what if the way forward is not through endless improvement, but through a reckoning with the unconscious forces that shape our desires?
You Are Not Alone.
I offer psychoanalytically and philosophically grounded personal and academic coaching to help you navigate challenges, find meaning, and foster both intellectual and personal growth. This is not about self-optimization but about critical reflection, engaging unconscious structures, and moving beyond the illusion of mastery.
Who are you, really? Where are you going? And what is it that you truly desire?
These questions lie at the core of our struggle with existence. As psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan reminds us, "What am I? I am in the place from which 'the universe is a flaw in the purity of non-being.'" We are shaped not by wholeness but by lack—by the gaps and contradictions that define us. True transformation does not come from erasing these fractures but from reckoning with them, from finding meaning in the spaces where certainty fails. Only through this confrontation with the real can we begin to move forward—not toward perfection, but toward a deeper understanding of ourselves.
About me...
Transformative Life Coaching Rooted in Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
I am Dr. Adrián Flores, a queer scholar, educator, and coach with over 15 years of experience at the intersection of psychoanalysis, philosophy, and critical theory. My coaching services, Traversing the Psychic Life of Power, are grounded in a deep understanding of the unconscious forces that shape our desires, identities, and actions. I provide psychoanalytically and philosophically oriented coaching to help individuals navigate personal challenges, foster intellectual and personal growth, and find meaning in a world often defined by uncertainty and striving.
Academic and Professional Background
My career has included prestigious research fellowships, including the UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship at UCLA and the American Council of Learned Societies Emerging Voices Fellowship at UC Santa Barbara. I have taught and mentored undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Arizona, UCLA, and UC Santa Barbara, guiding them through critical thinking, academic challenges, and intellectual development. My award-winning research, which explores the intersections of power, trauma, and identity, has been presented at national and international forums, influencing contemporary mental health discourse.
Ongoing Research
Currently, I am completing my book, What Is Suicide? Entanglements of Philosophy and Literature in the ‘Afterlife of Slavery’, which explores how power and violence shape human behavior. In addition to my academic work, I am pursuing psychoanalytic training, which further enriches my ability to help clients navigate both personal and intellectual struggles. My unique approach combines the insights of psychoanalysis and philosophy to support individuals in becoming more deeply attuned to their unconscious motivations and desires.
A Tailored Approach to Coaching
Whether you’re navigating personal challenges, seeking clarity in your intellectual pursuits, or aiming to cultivate a deeper sense of meaning, my coaching offers a tailored, reflective approach. I work with individuals from all walks of life, helping them engage with their inner world to unlock potential and foster growth—whether that growth is intellectual, emotional, or personal.
Why Work With Me?
My years of academic training, along with my ongoing clinical psychoanalytic development, prepare me to guide you through complex questions of identity, purpose, and ambition. Whether you are in academia or any other field, I offer the tools and support to help you grow, confront your challenges, and become the person you’re meant to be.
Ethos
My coaching approach is grounded in psychoanalytic and philosophical frameworks, helping you navigate both personal and academic development. This is not therapy, but coaching focused on personal growth and clarity. We’ll explore how social ideals, cultural expectations, and unconscious forces shape your desires and challenges. Together, we’ll examine the deeper patterns influencing your sense of self, and reframe suffering not as something to avoid but as an inevitable part of life that can be bound to meaning and purpose.
Through this coaching, we’ll cultivate self-awareness and critical reflection, using an intersectional lens to understand how race, gender, and class shape your experience. This process is about embracing imperfection, questioning the norms that limit your potential, and moving beyond the constant pursuit of self-optimization. By engaging in this deeper exploration, you’ll develop the tools to face challenges with purpose, navigate life with intention, and foster growth that aligns with your true potential.
