Philosophical counseling
Encyclopedia
Philosophical counseling, also sometimes called philosophical practice, is a contemporary movement in practical philosophy
. Its practitioners ordinarily have a doctorate or minimally a master’s degree in philosophy and offer their philosophical counseling or consultation services to clients. The movement has often been said to be rooted in the Socratic tradition, which viewed philosophy as a kind of therapy for the soul.
There are presently a number of professional associations for philosophical counseling throughout the world, including France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Greece, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg Israel, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Korea, Turkey, Japan, and the United States. The world’s oldest association of philosophical counseling and practice appears to be the German Society for Philosophical Practice and Counseling, which was founded in 1982 by the German philosopher, Gerd B. Achenbach. In the United States, the oldest association of philosophical counseling and practice appears to be the National Philosophical Counseling Association (NPCA), formerly called the American Society for Philosophy, Counseling, and Psychotherapy, which was co-founded in 1992 by three American philosophers, Elliot D. Cohen, Paul Sharkey, and Thomas Magnell.
According to the Preamble of the NPCA Standards of Practice, “a philosophical practitioner helps clients to clarify, articulate, explore and comprehend philosophical aspects of their belief systems or world views….Clients may consult philosophical practitioners for help in exploring philosophical problems related to such matters as mid-life crises, career changes, stress, emotions, assertiveness, physical illness, death and dying, aging, meaning of life, and morality.” Activities common to philosophical practice include “(1) the examination of clients' arguments and justifications; (2) the clarification, analysis, and definition of important terms and concepts; (3) the exposure and examination of underlying assumptions and logical implications; (4 ) the exposure of conflicts and inconsistencies; (5) the exploration of traditional philosophical theories an d their significance for client issues; and (6) all other related activities that have historically been identified as philosophical.”
The methods and orientations of philosophical counselors vary greatly, however. Some practitioners, such as Gerd Achebach(Germany) and Schlomit Schuster (Israel) are non-directive and hold that philosophical counseling has no further end than helping to facilitate clients’ philosophical enlightenment. Others are more directive and view philosophical counseling as a form of mental health intervention. Some philosophical practitioners, notably Louis Marinoff (U.S.), view philosophical practice as a separate practice area distinct from mental health practices such as psychology and mental health counseling; while others think they are necessarily intertwined. “Thus far, only Cohen and Marinoff have branded easily comprehended techniques. Cohen's logic-based therapy builds on the work of his mentor Albert Ellis
, who invented REBT.”
Practical philosophy
The division of philosophy into a practical and a theoretical discipline has its origin in Aristotle's moral philosophy and natural philosophy categories. In Sweden and Finland courses in theoretical and practical philosophy are taught separately, and are separate degrees...
. Its practitioners ordinarily have a doctorate or minimally a master’s degree in philosophy and offer their philosophical counseling or consultation services to clients. The movement has often been said to be rooted in the Socratic tradition, which viewed philosophy as a kind of therapy for the soul.
There are presently a number of professional associations for philosophical counseling throughout the world, including France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Greece, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg Israel, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Korea, Turkey, Japan, and the United States. The world’s oldest association of philosophical counseling and practice appears to be the German Society for Philosophical Practice and Counseling, which was founded in 1982 by the German philosopher, Gerd B. Achenbach. In the United States, the oldest association of philosophical counseling and practice appears to be the National Philosophical Counseling Association (NPCA), formerly called the American Society for Philosophy, Counseling, and Psychotherapy, which was co-founded in 1992 by three American philosophers, Elliot D. Cohen, Paul Sharkey, and Thomas Magnell.
According to the Preamble of the NPCA Standards of Practice, “a philosophical practitioner helps clients to clarify, articulate, explore and comprehend philosophical aspects of their belief systems or world views….Clients may consult philosophical practitioners for help in exploring philosophical problems related to such matters as mid-life crises, career changes, stress, emotions, assertiveness, physical illness, death and dying, aging, meaning of life, and morality.” Activities common to philosophical practice include “(1) the examination of clients' arguments and justifications; (2) the clarification, analysis, and definition of important terms and concepts; (3) the exposure and examination of underlying assumptions and logical implications; (4 ) the exposure of conflicts and inconsistencies; (5) the exploration of traditional philosophical theories an d their significance for client issues; and (6) all other related activities that have historically been identified as philosophical.”
The methods and orientations of philosophical counselors vary greatly, however. Some practitioners, such as Gerd Achebach(Germany) and Schlomit Schuster (Israel) are non-directive and hold that philosophical counseling has no further end than helping to facilitate clients’ philosophical enlightenment. Others are more directive and view philosophical counseling as a form of mental health intervention. Some philosophical practitioners, notably Louis Marinoff (U.S.), view philosophical practice as a separate practice area distinct from mental health practices such as psychology and mental health counseling; while others think they are necessarily intertwined. “Thus far, only Cohen and Marinoff have branded easily comprehended techniques. Cohen's logic-based therapy builds on the work of his mentor Albert Ellis
Albert Ellis
Albert Ellis was an American psychologist who in 1955 developed Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy . He held M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University and American Board of Professional Psychology . He also founded and was the president emeritus of the New York...
, who invented REBT.”