Luisa de Paula
via Gallese 18
00189 Roma - Italy
+393479432450
luisa.dep@tin.it
We mustn’t look after human things because
we are human, nor mortal things because we are mortal;
but, as far it’s possible, we must think about ourselves
as immortal beings, and do everything for living in accordance
with our best part, which is superior in dignity and power.
For humans the life guided by intellect is the most natural,
perfect, and happy.
Alike Aristotle’s, my concept of human life is
at the same time dizzly high and strongly realistic. We
all have a wonderful potential, which is unique of ourselves
and worth discovering. The ways of full realization are
as many and different as people are. Most of us just follow
the ways traced by others; fortunately, there are also
others who are not content with the already settled routes,
and rather prefer to create their own path. For such persons
the journey of life is often intricate, never simple,
but still really extraordinary and authentically happy.
It is to this kind of courageous people that philosophical
counseling appeals, as a precious escort to the fantastic
adventure of full existence.
My philosophical counseling is training and education
in the deepest sense of the word. Etymologically, education
means “drawing out, leading” and, more extensively,
“developing skills, shaping habits through constant
exercise”. From Socrates on, we philosophers believe
that all you need is inside, but it still must be “drawn
out” in the world, among the other people, rather
than analyzed in the abstract and isolated realm of modern
psyche. Philosophy, the love for wisdom, is what contemporary
men and women really lack for true happiness: an education
at 360° which engage intellect, body and soul, step
by step, in the actual world.
As a philosophical counsellor I’ll expect a lot
from you. Because of your potential and the care I take
of your life, we have to work with seriousness and pleasure
at the same time. This is Aristotle’s secret for
effectiveness. But we will not follow a single method,
drawn by Aristotle or by anybody else. Rather, we will
shift from one perspective to another, every time depending
on your actual needs; we will assimilate useful philosophical
views as practical instruments to invent your own course
of lived life. Besides educational my method is thus person-centered
and directive, in the sense that I assume full responsibility
and authority of our shared training.
I consider each human being a body-soul whole, and thus
train for improving overall lifestyles. Turning back to
what was an assumption of the ancient Greece’s philosophical
practices, Feuerbach maintained that “we are what
we eat”, and this should interpreted in the broadest
sense of all what we assimilate from the outside, from
air and food to concepts and love. In accordance with
your actual needs and personality, I’ll propose
you unconventional ways of body-mind training, such as
“talking while running” and “Stoic neurobics”.
Most of the techniques I adopt are taken or inspired by
ancient philosophical practices and contemporary existential
psychophenomenology. Among them: Epicurean Edoné
(search for deep pleasure); Epicurean Tetrafàrmakos
(quadruple remedy); Stoic Apàtheia (positive detachment);
Stoic Oikéiosis (“appropriation”; bodily,
rational and emotional integration of the self in the
world); Phythagorean analysis; mnemetechniques; work on
dreams; spiritual exercises in Live & Death; bibliotherapy.
My favourites: Epicurus, Epictetus, Aristotle, Bruno,
De Beauvoir, Sartre, Binswanger, Zambrano….and many
others!!
My credentials in brief: four-years Laurea in Philosophy;
three-years specialization in Psychophilosophy and Philosophical
Pracitces; three-years Diploma di Laurea in Journalism;
Master in International Communication and Social Journalism;
Master in Environmental Journalism; three-years working
in the field of cultural management in non-profit organizations;
many experimental experiences in philosophical practices
with adult groups, schools, universities, hospitals, associations
and disadvantaged people.
