—Epicurus
Where do we meet?
I am currently meeting with clients via Skype.
How is philosophical counseling different from cognitive therapy?
You will find an overlap. But any certified philosophical counselor, as a trained philosopher, will always do more than simply pinpoint the beliefs that underlie your pain and suggest that you change them. A philosophical counselor will try to get a sense of how you’re justifying your beliefs and will examine those justifications with you. For example, if you are suffering from low self-esteem, you may have a certain belief about yourself. You may justify that belief by pointing to behaviors that you’d like to change. A philosophical counselor will guide you in reexamining the meanings you attach to those behaviors and the inferences about yourself that you draw from them. Philosophical counseling can be more effective in helping you change patterns of thinking that don’t serve you well because you examine your reasoning for yourself.
How is philosophical counseling different from life coaching?
Again, you will find an overlap. However, life coaches primarily mentor and encourage clients in working toward their goals. Philosophical counselors understand that people are not always clear about what their goals are. They guide clients in clarifying what is important to them and in formulating goals.
How much does philosophical counseling cost?
The rate for a one-hour session is $100.
Do you take health insurance?
Philosophical counseling is not covered by health insurance. It is considered an educational (not a medical) service. Philosophical counselors do not diagnose or treat mental illnesses or behavioral disorders.
When and how do I submit payment?
After each session…
payment is due within twenty-four hours, via Zelle.
As a package…
if you’d like to pay for ten sessions all at once, as a nonrefundable package, you’ll get a fifteen percent discount.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you cancel your session with less than twenty-four hours’ notice, I will not be able to fill your spot and will have to charge you for your session. If you need to cancel your session, please do so as far in advance as possible (a week in advance is preferred).
Do I have to have studied philosophy to do philosophical counseling?
No. All you need is your ability to reason. I may mention philosophers’ thoughts about the questions we’re exploring if it is useful to our discussion, but you do not need prior knowledge of them.
What are your qualifications?
PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto
Certified in Philosophical Counseling through the American Philosophical Practitioners Association
Published author of articles on ethics and philosophical counseling and a book called Wittgenstein’s Account of Truth, short-listed for the Canadian Philosophical Association Book Prize
What are the benefits of philosophical counseling?
There are several. An immediate benefit is the experience of speaking with a professional who listens to you, whose questions are intended not to diagnose you but to learn who you are and what is important to you and who wants you to be thrive. That support, in itself, most often helps people feel better. There is also the feeling of confidence and the sense of peace that comes from knowing that you’ve come to a reasoned conclusion about what the best choice is.