Frequently Asked Questions About Philosophical Client Counseling

What is philosophical counseling? The brief version, please.

This is an educational activity that provides for individual clients the use of philosophical methods and approaches to resolve or manage problems associated with everyday life. Philosophical counseling is intended for clients who are rational, functional in everyday life and can benefit from philosophical assistance in managing or resolving problems associated with everyday life. This is an alternative to psychotherapy, although it does not need to be considered in conflict with psychotherapy. My activity is regulated by the professional code of ethics and certification standards of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association.

What is the scope of practice of philosophical counseling?

The most suitable candidates for philosophical counseling are clients whose problems are centered in:
• Issues of private morality or professional ethics; or
• Issues of meaning, value, or purpose; or
• Issues of personal or professional fulfillment; or
• Issues of underdetermined or inconsistent belief systems; or
• Issues requiring any philosophical interpretation of changing circumstances.

Do I have to be a student of philosophy or to read anything?

I think that most people harbor questions about life that are philosophical. It is my goal to bring to your awareness this dimension of your own questions, and to bring to light some ways of approaching your problems that are philosophical. Your questions and concerns are sufficient to conduct a philosophical inquiry with me. If you want to read anything, I will be happy to recommend some sources that appear to me to speak to your concerns. If you want me to read anything, I am open to learning from you and I would enjoy examining your intellectual sources.

Can philosophical counseling be done over the phone?

Yes. I find telephone consultation can be just as effective as face-to-face dialog. It is amazing how strong the communication between two people can be, just in what is said and tone of voice. There is also the added benefit of being able to stay comfortably in your own environment during a session.

What are your qualifications?

The American Philosophical Practitioners Association certifies and supervises me as a philosophical counselor. I practice philosophical counseling in Southeast Michigan and internationally by telephone sessions with clients. I am a Professor of Philosophy at Eastern Michigan University. My doctorate in Philosophy is from Vanderbilt University (1989). I have a Masters in Philosophy from the University of Memphis (1983) and a Masters in Religious Studies from the University of Denver (1980), with a specialization in comparative religion and psychology of religious experience. I am an active member in these other professional organizations:

American Philosophical Association
Society for Phenomenological and Existential Philosophy
American Society for Philosophy, Counseling and Psychotherapy
American Counseling Association
Society for Philosophical Inquiry

What is the purpose and protocol of your research?

The purpose of my research is two-fold: 1) to provide philosophical counseling as an educational community service, and 2) to further the theoretical and practical exchange of knowledge in the field of philosophical practice by the scholarly use of case studies of client sessions. If you are interested in participating in my research, then I have a consent form for you to review that describes the voluntary nature of your participation. In this consent form, I promise to abide by strict confidentiality and to protect your anonymity in any case studies written about your sessions with me. If you agree to sign the form, you are consenting to my use of our sessions for the collection of case studies that will contribute to the scholarly development of the theory and practice of philosophical client counseling.

What are the differences and similarities between philosophical counseling and psychotherapy?

The most obvious difference is that philosophical counseling is rendered by a trained philosopher who uses philosophical methods and approaches to resolve the client's problems, whereas most psychotherapies are rendered by mental health professionals or by practitioners whose focus is on the mental health of their clients. The goal of psychotherapy is therapeutic in a psychological sense: mental health. The goal of philosophical counseling is self-understanding, in the sense that the client examines her or his beliefs and problems through the light of reasoning, values, and alternative belief systems. One of the beneficial effects of philosophical counseling is usually therapeutic, but "feeling better" is not the primary goal. Self-knowledge is the primary goal. Also, most psychotherapies have a diagnostic function: the client is presumed to have a mental or emotional disorder that requires intervention in order to restore the client's psychological state to normalcy. Philosophical counseling is non-diagnostic: the client presents concerns or problems and the philosophical aspect of the problem is examined. In philosophical counseling practice, there are no assumptions about the psychological state of the client and a conscious effort is made to critically question assumptions about "normalcy" in general.
Despite these differences, there are strong similarities between some psychotherapies and philosophical counseling. For example, in both practices there is a recognized need for care, compassion, and deeply attuned listening on the part of the counselor. There is a need for client trust and for client disclosure of her or his thoughts and feelings. Another similarity is that all types of professional counseling must be guided by a strong set of professional ethical principles, the core of which is to "do no harm" to clients. Although philosophical counseling focuses on the application of reasoning to life issues, this does not mean that philosophical counseling ignores feelings or emotions. There is a huge body of philosophical literature about the connection between emotions and rationality, and philosophers generally recognized that the two do not operate separately in people's actual lives. Just as in psychotherapy, each philosophical counselor will have a somewhat unique perspective, informed by philosophical analysis, on how to address the client's emotions in counseling sessions.

How much does this cost?

The fee is $65 per hour, or sliding scale, for face-to-face consultation or telephone sessions. Long distance telephone sessions are on your dime, by appointment. Payment for sessions is accepted by personal checks. Send personal checks by U.S. postal service immediately after our telephone session. Unfortunately philosophical counseling is not reimbursable by insurance plans. This type of counseling is not diagnostic and does not presume to treat a mental disorder, so it is usually not included in health care plans.