Is philosophical counselling for you?

First and foremost, philosophical counselling is for everybody. Each one of us engages in philosophical matters everyday; not necessarily through abstract reflection, but through our actions, our judgements and our choices. No action, choice or judgement occurs in a vacuum; there is always a context. Implied in this context, or framework, is one’s philosophy. It may not be a well defined or even coherent philosophy, but it does hold together, positively or negatively, the framework within which we live our lives. Everybody philosophizes; the question is, how well do we do it?

Considering this to be so, everybody can benefit from some form of philosophical counsel. We find counsel in many places: friends, family, books, etcetera. All these can be useful sources to challenge and promote self- reflection. Often, however, it can be difficult to find space to be listened to; to be heard and to be heard without judgement. It can sometimes be frustrating discussing matters with friends and family who find it hard to see past their own prejudices and conditioning. Even to those wishing us well, philosophical depth and insight are not always readily available.

Philosophical counselling does not pretend to be the answer to all that besets the human condition. It does not propose to “diagnose” “treat” or “cure” life situations that are found difficult. It is an exploration of life; both the wonders and the problems that face us. Embracing a two and a half thousand year old tradition starting with the ancient Greeks, it is a process of dialogue embracing both reason and relationship; philo and Sophia.

Anybody that is capable of discussing their situation in a rational and open manner is suitable for philosophical counselling. If you are uncertain whether you consider philosophical counselling to be suitable for you, you can e-mail or call to discuss your concern further. All the information is in the “Contact Us” tab on the front page.

If you are uncertain about what kind of counsel you think would be suitable, whether it is some form of psychotherapy, psychiatry, or helping profession, it can often be of help to discuss the benefits of such therapies with a philosophical counsellor so as to identifying more clearly the path to choose. I have a strong referral list for matters not falling under the purview of philosophical counselling. Philosophical counselling does not have all the answers, but it can help to refine and ask the right questions.

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry