Can philosophy heal?
Philosophical couseling is not therapy but an educational support. Nonetheless, having greater awareness of one's thoughts, of the emotions underlying them, can greatly improve one's quality of life.
What happens in a philosophical counseling session?
Reasoning - as critical thinking - in dialogue form is the main activity that takes place during a philosophical counseling session. Starting from the well-established premise that reasoning influences emotions, and that conscious thinking can also guide emotions, philosophical counselors appeal to the rational ideas and methods of philosophy as exemplified by the enormous wealth of thoughts, ideas, theories, and practical advices on truth, reality, and the art living, all of which make up the rich tapestry of our philosophical tradition. Against this background, both counselor and client delve deep into the latter’s presuppositions, thereby bringing them to light before considering revising or, as need be, discarding them entirely.
Why should one turn to a philosophical counsellor?
Life experiences that might lead someone to a philosophical counseling session, include uncertainty about a career change; ethical conflicts or difficulties in a personal or professional relationship; discomfort in relationships with a partner; a spiritual crisis; questions about core values; meaning or purpose of one's life; the issue of death, grief, having to face a loss; confusion due to identity conflicts, and so on.
Counseling, as a philosophical practice, addresses many life problems, conflicts, dilemmas; investigates the countless issues of existence and is suitable for everyone those who feel the need to clarify within themselves, even if they do not have a specific problem, but would like to better orient their lives, feel that they lack direction or purpose. In general, people turn to philosophical counseling to reinterpret their existence and untie its knots, deepening their thinking and self-awareness.
How does philosophical counseling differ from psychotherapy?
First of all, philosophical counseling is not therapy but educational support; the approach is not diagnostic, but dialogic. Turning to a philosopher as opposed to a psychotherapist is for people who strive to understand and to learn to take responsibility for the human predicament and how it manifests itself in their personal sense of general disorientation, lack of meaning or purpose, discontent, or worry about the course of their lives. Or the problems might smaller in scale yet still significant, such as having an awareness of an issue that cannot be clearly articulated, or feeling trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of limited alternative solutions. . These kinds of situations (and indeed many others) always have philosophical aspects that psychotherapy cannot address (the fact remains that in the therapeutic field, many can be inspired by philosophical ideas).
If philosophical counseling focuses on reasoning and thinking, how can it help me cope with my emotional life, i.e. the fear, sadness, and anger that led me to seek advice?
Philosophical counselors hold that critical thinking enables one to examine and challenge emotions, thereby freeing you from them. Fear can immobilize, anger can cloud the mind, sadness can demotivate us. Often however, these emotions derive from judgments we have made about ourselves or others and tend to diminish when we see those judgments as inaccurate or as a presentation of an incomplete picture of a situation. Therefore, the philosophical counsellor disarms the faulty judgements that contribute to the debilitating emotions by analysing the client's worldview and his or her way of reasoning. The root causes of emotions may not be what they appear at first glance. Orienting dialogue around the client’s reasoning processes bring to light surprising meanings and unexpected opportunities for the client.
What are your credentials?
I obtained a bachelor’s and a master's degree in Philosophy both from the University of Trieste, both with full marks and honors. I am certified counsellor under the auspicies of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA), which is the international association of philosophical counselors founded by Prof. Lou Marinoff, author of the international beststeller Plato, Not Prozac! Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems (1999).
As a member of APPA I am required to constantly update my credentials. You can see my profile by following this link:
An individual philosophical counseling session lasts 60 minutes, with the exception of the first meeting which lasts 30 minutes and is free of charge.