About Philosophical Counseling

“Everything old is new again.” — Peter Allen

Philosophical counseling is as old as the ancient philosophers of the East and the West, who practiced philosophy as a way of life. It emerged anew in the 1980’s as an alternative to psychotherapy for those who sought dialogue rather than diagnosis in the attempt at finding solutions to the problems of life through clarity of thought. Philosophical counseling uses the tools of philosophy — conceptual analysis, Socratic questioning, existential exploration of meaning, logical reasoning, mindfulness, among others — to help clients gain a better understanding of themselves, their values, and their worldview.

Through a deeper understanding of the beliefs that influence our feelings and actions, like Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT), itself grounded in ancient Stoicism, philosophical counseling helps to free us from the irrational or unhelpful thoughts that block our personal growth and hinder our happiness. Its ultimate aim is the achievement of what the ancient Greek philosophers called ataraxia, the freedom from mental distress, otherwise known as serenity or inner peace.