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Photo credit: Hetty Bosveld
Photo credit: Shimi Nachteiler
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Photo credit: Erwin Schenkelbach
(c) All rights reserved.
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Center Sophon was founded with the aim of promoting the
practice of
philosophy in all areas of living. This is done by providing persons with information through
lectures or written material on philosophical counseling. Another activity of Center Sophon is
the Philoso-phone, a nonprofit telephone line for information on philosophical counseling,
and a first-aid hot-line for ethical dilemmas and existential problems.
Center Sophon provides courses in private instruction to philosophers who want to begin their own
counseling office, and also offers private philosophical counseling
sessions.
The Philosophical First-Aid Line:
(00972) 2 - 6795090
Philoso-phone is an adaption of the idea of Chad Varah, the founder
of the British suicide-prevention telephone line and of the Samaritans
(or Friendship International) for philosophical counseling. Varah's
discovery that "befriending" persons with problems was often more
effective than most other help that was offered to them led to "befriending"
becoming an important element in my contact with persons who call the
hot-line for ethical dilemmas and existential problems. I have been
offering this service since 1990, and received calls from persons with
suicidal thoughts, severe depression, loneliness, confusion, or ethical
dilemmas. Sometimes persons are helped by one phone call, others may call
again, and yet others will continue the telephone sessions in private
face-to-face counseling.
Private instruction to philosophers
The introduction course is 20 academic hours (i.e. 20 x 45 minutes, but may
end up to be 20 X 60 min. some times-- but for the same price!) These are
presented in 10 private sessions. One would have to read in advance my book
Philosophy Practice: An Alternative to Counseling and Psychotherapy.
Since the course is personalized instruction I would need to know more
about
your existing background knowledge in philosophy and your interest in
this
field and your purpose of studying it. The purpose of the course is to
advance knowledge in philosophical practice through dialogue, to
practice philosophical dialogue and to investigate and advance
philosophical understanding in living. Also it would aim to help to
integrate philosophical practice in your professional field of
interest. This course is open to philosophers as well as non
professional philosophers. But for each other person this course will
be different. An intensive introduction course can be done in two weeks
(or over a longer period), and yes, Jerusalem is happy to have you as a
visitor here. One receives a certificate at the completion of the
course.
Private philosophical counseling and philosophical psychoanalytic sessions
are held at Center Sophon. Sessions are about one hour long and can
occur at varying intervals ranging from several times per week to once
in several months, according to the conselee's wishes. All questions
and problems are welcome. A small number of counselees might be
reffered to another philosopher who specializes in the issue they would
like to talk about, or to another specialist better able to help them.
If for one reason or another you cannot visit me there or at the Sophon Center, meet me in cyberspace through E-mail correspondence.
Though real face-to-face communication seems the best, different forms
of communication are nevertheless also appropriate means for counseling
such as, philosophical counseling by e-mail. Also consultation through Skype is possible after making by an email an appointment.
Last but not least, I provide philosophical entertainment. For birthday
parties, weddings, and all other happy or important occasions you can
invite me to lead a philosophical discussion on your choice or that of
your guests.
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