What is Philosophical Counseling?

Philosophical Counseling uses the methods and theories of philosophy to assist individuals in managing and resolving personal issues.

Philosophical counseling is designed to address issues that are primarily philosophical in nature or involve a significant philosophical component. It is also appropriate for those individuals who prefer to approach personal matters from a philosophical point of view.

Real-Life Philosophical Problems

A problem is philosophical if it is rooted in the concepts that enable us to make sense of ourselves and our world.

Real-life philosophical problems occur when any form of conceptual disorder undermines our ability to think clearly and efficiently about what matters to us.

Common philosophical problems include difficulties clarifying the nature of one's goals, the general direction of one's life, the status of gender roles, the shape of familial obligations,  the importance of social expectations, and the development or maintenance of personal independence and fulfillment.

 

Is The Problem Philosophical?

Although we often know that something is bothering us, it can be very difficult to figure out what the true source of the difficulty is. 

There is good reason to suspect that the problem is philosophical if one is inclined to describe oneself as:

• Thinking in circles
• Caught in a dilemma
• Not sure how to begin to think about such-and-such
• Pulled in two directions
• At a loss about what to believe

Philosophical Problems Take Different Shapes

Philosophical problems often take the form of an abstract question, for example,  "What is a family, really?" or "What is it reasonable to expect from life?"

They can also be expressed in very concrete questions, however: "Can this decision really be the right one?" may express a philosophical problem that is both complex and subtle.

A philosophical problem need not be expressed as a question at all: "I don't think I believe in my priorities anymore" may voice a profound philosophical problem.