Philosophical counseling is a method of therapy where the practitioner combines the insights and methods of philosophical discourse with traditional psychotherapeutic approaches. Often this combination creates a powerful therapeutic atmosphere for the client. It is a recognized profession which has a certification process through the American Philosophical Practitioners Association.
How Philosophical Counseling Differs from Psychotherapy?
In many ways, philosophical counseling is similar to therapy. In both fields, the counselor or therapist seeks to raise the client’s level of self-awareness in order to assist her in solving problems, attaining emotional balance, or increasing self-esteem. In fact, the intersection between the two disciplines is great; many of today’s psychologists study and use the understandings of philosophical schools in their therapy sessions. Conversely, many professional philosophers have used the scientific discoveries of the social sciences - particularly psychology - to gain deeper insight into the nature of mental processes, cognition, memory, intelligence, and other related subjects.
The main difference is that the philosophical practitioner, having been trained in the discipline of philosophy, is specially adept at helping the client think through his issues rationally. His keen command of inferential thinking and inductive reason makes him particularly skilled at pointing out to the client the illogical thought patterns that may be dominating or frustrating the client’s journey toward individuation. Additionally, the philosophical practitioner is often well-versed in cultural peculiarities; she understands that an individual’s ethnic or national background can significantly affect how she thinks, processes, and reasons. Also, the philosophical practitioner is often freer to employ the methods of non-orthodox psychological schools in his or her work.
Philosophical Counseling: East Meets West
For example, I use the I Ching in my counseling sessions. The I Ching is a wisdom book from the Taoist spiritual tradition. I use it to help my clients grow in self-awareness and attain emotional balance. The book is particularly suitable for assisting clients in complex problem-solving. I also use the I Ching in dream interpretation because it is a useful tool in disclosing the hidden meanings of the unconscious or archetypal symbolism of dreams.
Author's Bio
Eric Bryant is a philosophical counselor in Union County, NJ. His primary specialty is what he calls "esthetic therapy" - helping artists open and augment their creative abilities, as well as providing direction to artists on their careers. He is a member of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA) and has done intensive inter-disciplinary study in Continental philosophy, Jungian psychology and Comparitive Religion.
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