Philosophical Counseling
Better Thinking: Untying the Knots in our Mind (Wittgenstein)
I believe philosophy has the potential to incite change by introducing individuals to diverse perspectives, and enhancing their ability to rationally assess their own insights. Living involves doubts, confusions and anxieties. The perplexity we often feel in this world is not necessarily pathological, nor calling for medicalization. Philosophical dialogue and reflection can nurture personal exploration and growth, by untangling existential and ethical concerns directly related to fundamental questions about meaning, morality, and personal identity.
Caveat: Philosophical counseling cannot address certain severe psychiatric disorders. It does not primarily aim to facilitate social conformity or suitability, nor provide diagnosis or treatment for mental health disorders. Rather, it explores moral and aesthetic values that can give life purpose, and help you to critically evaluate the soundness of your belief systems.
In contrast to traditional psychotherapy, philosophical counseling seeks to deepen and expand your understanding of reality. Sessions may explore abstract ideas or address personal issues from a philosophical perspective, fostering the possibility for living a more examined life.
Philosophical Counseling as Personalized Applied Ethics
As a philosophical practitioner, I adopt both a descriptive and a normative approach to explore life problems and values raising philosophical questions about human existence:
- What can contribute to a fulfilling life?
- What role do relationships play in my life, and how do I navigate interpersonal dynamics?
- How does bringing new life into the world make me feel?
- What should friendship entail?
- How do I balance individual autonomy with social responsibility in my life?
- How do I cope with uncertainty, change, and adversity?
- How do I view the concept of freedom, and what should I be accountable for?
- Why and when do I feel inadequate?
- How do I define success, and what criteria do I use to evaluate my achievements?
- How do I understand and cope with feelings of regret in my life?
- What insights do I glean from reflecting on past choices, and how do they inform my present actions and decisions?
- What factors contribute to moments of indecision in my life, and how do I navigate them?
- ow do I balance personal desires, external influences, and ethical considerations when making significant decisions?
- What fears or concerns do I have about mortality and aging, and how do I manage them?
- How do cultural, religious, or philosophical beliefs shape my perspective on death, meaning, achievement, or relationships?
While Existentialism, Stoicism or Phenomenology may, at times, inform the framework of our discussion, I do not limit the scope of the conversation to any specific philosophical tradition. We might unpack insights from a myriad of thinkers – including sociologists, novelists, and poets.
My counseling services can take the form of individual sessions or group workshops, online or in-person.
I won’t provide academic lectures with solutions nor ready-made answers; rather, as a mediator, I will facilitate your elucidation process and encourage a thoughtful exchange about your experience and quandaries. This exchange can take many forms, depending on your needs and expectations.
More about Philosophical Counseling: When Philosophers become Therapists – The New Yorker
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