American Philosophical Practitioners Association

Andrea Messineo

The search for happiness is as old as human history, but the guides we choose to accompany us on that search vary with the times. In one era perhaps the consultant of choice was a priest or other religious leader; later, the psychoanalyst may have been perceived as the one with the answers. Today people in distress may be just as likely to seek out a medical doctor for a prescription to correct their brain chemistry. We are fortunate to still be able to choose from among all these options; however, there is a category of problem that they may not address: the queries of people who are not physically or emotionally troubled nor looking for instruction in a particular faith, but who wish to apply the timeless voice of reason to a genuine intellectual dilemma. As a philosophical consultant, I seek to assist individuals and groups in just this way.

I have a strong interest and training in issues pertaining to spirituality and religious belief. I believe that philosophy can be useful in providing a neutral, objective standpoint from which to examine questions of a transcendent nature, such as:

• Self-realization
• Values clarification
• Personal goal setting and attainment
• Questions of morality or ethics in
  - the workplace
  - the home
  - relationships
  - society
• Exploring beliefs about God
• Giving meaning to pain and loss
• Understanding religious addiction
• Resolving conflicts between logic and faith
  
  Of course, my practice is not limited to these areas: just about everything that is interesting and important in life is fair game for discussion in philosophy! For example, past and present employers have called upon me to apply philosophy - in the form of critical thinking and process analysis - to problem-solving in the corporate world.

I am a philosophical practitioner, holding primary certification in clientcounseling from the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. I completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome, Italy; and as of 6/98 I hold ABD (= "All But Dissertation") status at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. I have taught introductory courses in philosophy at Kingwood College (Kingwood, TX); and have also held jobs with major financial corporations such as General Electric and Chase, where I applied W.E. Deming's problem-solving techniques in a business environment. I also have experience in web design and site maintenance.

I am available for both face-to-face and email sessions. I can be contacted at:

Andrea Messineo
1418 Richmond Avenue
Houston, Texas 77006
713-208-9989
panzanella@pdq.net

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