From Virtue Ethics to Harm Reduction: My Journey to Forming Connected Meaning Therapy (CMT)

The Philosophy Rabbit Hole

So, I was a philosophy major in college—mostly because I wanted to figure out what the heck it even means to be a good person. Not in the “I’m perfect and morally superior” kind of way, but in the “how do we make our choices and live our best lives” kind of way. My favorite professor was deeply invested in combining virtue ethics (the idea that we should work on cultivating virtues like wisdom and courage) with consequentialism (which asks: what’s the impact of our actions on others?). It was like he was trying to find the middle ground between moral character and practical outcomes, and honestly, I loved it.

But then came deontology—this rule-based approach that said we need to follow the right duties and moral obligations, regardless of what the consequences are. At first, I thought, “Hold up, how do all these fit together?” It seemed impossible. But my professor helped me understand that they weren’t all inherently incompatible if we hold space for complexity: It’s about growing as a person (virtue ethics), understanding the consequences of our actions (consequentialism), and also honoring our moral duties (deontology). Turns out, ethics isn’t just about picking one—it’s about integrating the best of each.

From Theory to Practice: The Harm Reduction Years

Fast forward to when I found myself working in a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic. In harm reduction, the focus isn’t on getting people to be “morally perfect” or to follow strict rules. It’s about reducing harm—doing what you can to help people improve their lives. It’s about small, achievable changes.

I remember commenting on my favorite professor’s facebook when he made a post talking about his legacy, and saying, “I’m doing harm reduction work now.” And he was excited—because he saw the ethical principles we’d talked about coming to life. He wasn’t worried that I had “left philosophy” behind; he was thrilled that I was using those concepts to make a real-world impact.

Forming CMT: Blending It All Together

Eventually, all those ethical frameworks I had studied—virtue ethics, consequentialism, and deontology—came together in what would become Connected Meaning Therapy (CMT). CMT is about combining the best parts of these ideas to help people create meaningful change, without the pressure of moral perfection.

In CMT, we build on virtue ethics by helping clients develop personal qualities like resilience and self-awareness. Consequentialism helps us think about the outcomes of actions, so we’re not just asking clients to change for the sake of change—we’re helping them understand the real-world impact of their choices. And deontology guides us to respect moral duties like honoring oneself through self-compassion and making choices aligned with personal values, regardless of external pressures.

But at the heart of it, CMT is about progress—not attempting to be perfect by some external metric. It’s about helping clients create small shifts that make a big difference. It’s not about having the “perfect life,” but about creating a life that is meaningful to you, with room to grow along the way.

CMT: Ethics in Action

What makes CMT stand out is its ability to integrate these three ethical systems—virtue ethics, consequentialism, and deontology—in a way that works in therapy. We don’t just focus on the rules (deontology) or the outcomes (consequentialism), and we don’t expect clients to live up to some perfect ideal (virtue ethics). Instead, we balance all of these concepts to create a therapeutic approach that respects where clients are while also giving them tools to navigate complex situations and make meaningful change.

In CMT, freedom to choose is key. We give clients the space to make mistakes, to learn, and to try again. Connection is also crucial—whether that’s connecting to themselves, to others, or to something bigger. Authenticity is at the core of CMT, because true change comes from understanding who you are and where you’re going, not from trying to be someone you’re not. And self-compassion—because if you’re not kind to yourself, the whole thing falls apart. We’re all doing the best we can, and CMT honors that.

Real-Life Impact of CMT: Shifting with Purpose

CMT is particularly effective for neurodivergent adults, who may have experienced challenges like masking, emotional dysregulation, or sensory overload. For example, a neurodivergent client may use CMT’s flexibility to manage sensory challenges in ways that feel compassionate, not like they’re “just getting through” the moment. It can help clients recognize when their emotional responses are tied to deeper values and give them the tools to make changes without sacrificing authenticity or self-respect. By focusing on small shifts, we empower clients to make pragmatic and meaningful changes that improve their quality of life.

For instance, a client experiencing sensory overload might use CMT’s self-compassion tools to recognize when they’re pushing too hard and need to step back, instead of pushing through. This doesn’t mean giving up—it means practicing authenticity by acknowledging their limits, which allows them to recover and keep moving forward.

Conclusion: Ethics in Action, Not Theory

Looking back, I see how everything has come full circle—from studying virtue ethics, consequentialism, and deontology to working in harm reduction to now developing CMT.

When I told my favorite professor I was jumping into harm reduction, he was excited, seeing me finally put theory into practice. Now, as I write my book and continue developing CMT, he’s still excited, and that means the world to me. This work isn’t just academic theory—it’s a way to collaborate with people as they build meaningful lives.