Philosophical counseling

Philosophical counseling, rooted in the tradition of Socratic questioning, stands as an excellent tool for self-exploration. Socrates, a Greek philosopher from the 5th century BCE, employed a distinctive method of inquiry aimed at stimulating critical thinking and self-discovery. His method involved posing a series of open-ended questions that prompted individuals to examine their thoughts and beliefs, ultimately leading them to discover that the wisdom was already within them. This vivid exercise of thinking practiced on the ancient sites of the Athenian Agora, initiated the practice of philosophy. However, throughout centuries philosophy became a more academically confined discipline, delving into abstract concepts with little immediate practical application. 

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In recent times, there has been a resurgence of interest in the practical application of philosophy. Philosophical counseling, a relatively new and expanding field, initially emerged in Europe during the 1980s, pioneered by Gerd Achenbach in Germany. Currently, it has a strong presence in Europe (particularly, in the Netherlands, France, and Germany) and North America. 

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How does it work? 

I endorse the approach to philosophical counseling which builds on the Socratic method. Namely, it consists in taking a distance from the problem (be it social, existential, romantic, etc) and criticizing it. Explore the presuppositions that underpin this "problem", make them explicit, problematize them, and reveal different ways of relating to it. The primary focus is on the form of the speech, which reveals the structure of one's thoughts and the way one analyzes everyday phenomena. The form uncovers truthfully a person's thinking: its consistency, logic, and relevance. Ultimately, it is an invitation to explore one's life paradigm, by scrutinizing one's thinking patterns and questioning one's belief system. 

 

Philosophical counseling is an excellent tool for those seeking to explore themselves and achieve greater self-awareness in their lives. It challenges the mind, stimulates thinking, and brings more flexibility in viewing ourselves and the world around us. And, most importantly, debunking one's belief system is a lot of fun :).

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