FAQ
About Philosophical Counseling
Q1: What's
the difference between academic philosophy and philosophical
counseling?
Q2: Is philosophical
counseling a substitute for psychological counseling?
Q3: Is
philosophical counseling a substitute for psychiatric
counseling?
Q4: Is
philosophical counseling an art-form, or a science, or
both, or neither?
Q5: What
kind of training do philosophical counselors have?
What's the difference
between academic philosophy and philosophical counseling?
There's a significant difference. Academic
philosophy involves a study of the history of ideas, of
arguments about various ideas, of arguments about arguments
about various ideas, of ... well, you get the idea. Philosophical
counseling involves a study of your ideas and how they
affect your life--and how changing your ideas can change
your life. One might compare academic philosophy to art
history, and philosophical counseling to painting. The
former studies paintings; the latter paints them.
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questions
Is philosophical
counseling a substitute for psychological counseling?
No, it isn't. Psychological counseling can
be a very important stage in your self-understanding and
self-development. There are many kinds of psychological
counseling theories and methods, and each may have something
to offer you. At the same time, many if not most psychological
counselors are focused solely on the emotions, and never
get beyond them. Then again, many important psychologists--like
Jung, Rogers, Ellis, Frankl and Fromm--moved toward philosophical
ways of counseling. Most philosophical counselors appeal
to higher aspects of your being than your emotions--such
as your reason--which in the long run is a stronger force
to be reckoned with in your life. Many clients of philosophical
counseling have sensibly explored psychology as a prelude
to philosophy--like learning to swim in shallow waters
before venturing into deeper ones.
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questions
Is philosophical
counseling a substitute for psychiatric counseling?
No, it isn't. Some people suffer from cerebral
illnesses, which can render them dysfunctional or even
dangerous to themselves or others. Such persons may benefit
from psychiatric care. Philosophical counselors, however,
are concerned that psychiatry potentially labels every
kind of human problem or behavior a "mental illness":
we find such a view unacceptable. People experiencing
moral dilemmas, professional ethical conflicts, problems
concerning value, meaning or purpose, conflicts in relationships,
uncertainties about identity or career change, or difficulty
coping with loss, are usually quite normal in every respect,
and not at all cerebrally ill. Diagnosing such problems
as "mental illness" may do more harm than good.
People with severe cerebral, emotional or behavioral disturbances
may benefit from psychiatry, from psychotropic drugs,
and the like. People with ordinary human problems may
benefit from psychological or philosophical counseling.
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questions
Is philosophical
counseling an art-form, or a science, or both, or neither?
Tough question.
If we say it's an art-form we'll soon be
in trouble, because if philosophical counseling is an
art, and if art can be anything, then philosophical counseling
can be anything. Which it isn't. Then again, it's also
true that talk-therapy depends somewhat on the artistry
of the therapist, and also on the aesthetic match between
the counselor and counselee. Insight, imagination and
creativity are crucial in both artistic and therapeutic
endeavors. So while philosophical counseling isn't strictly
an art-form, it has some things in common with art-forms.
On the other hand, if we say it's a science
we'll be in trouble too, because science has cumulative
theories and methods which give us more and more reliable
knowledge over time--as for example in medical science.
While you wouldn't want your physician to apply medical
knowledge from Aristotle's era to your physical problem,
you might want your philosophical counselor to apply Aristotle's
theory of ethics to your moral problem. In this sense,
philosophical counseling isn't a science: older theories
and methods can be more useful in a given case than newer
ones. Then again, Nelson's method of Socratic dialogue
is definitely scientific in so far as it's reliable and
has been improved overtime. And of course, Indian philosophy
has developed many highly effective forms of meditation,
which are both philosophical practices and sciences of
self-development. So while philosophical counseling isn't
exactly a science, it has some things in common with science.
So, at the risk of sounding completely
paradoxical, we'd have to say that philosophical counseling
combines elements from both art and science, but is neither
art nor science. Confused? Maybe philosophical counseling
can help!
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What kind
of training do philosophical counselors have?
Good question. The APPA believes that people
who call themselves philosophical counselors should have
all the following qualifications:
(1) an advanced degree in philosophy, such
as an M.A. or a Ph.D. (or equivalent);
(2) documented experience in counseling clients philosophically;
(3) professionalism and reputability of character (which
includes recognizing clients who are not good candidates
for philosophical counseling, and providing appropriate
referrals).
Many philosophical counselors have
cross-training in rational emotive therapy, or Zen, or
applied ethics. Although individual styles and methods
may vary considerably, all APPA-certified counselors satisfy
the above criteria. For further details, see our Standards
(select Archives from the menu).
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