This short note introduces the growing movement of philosophical counseling, what it offers, and why (despite some confusion on the point) it's different in kind from psychotherapy.
Another thought provoking post. I’d read the New Yorker article previously. It had caught my attention as I consider myself someone who is practicing Stoicism and very interested in philosophy. But I came away a bit unsure what to think of the described philosophical counseling movement that was described. Your essay helped me connect the dots and better appreciate the strengths and weaknesses. And I was frankly a bit relieved when you described your own psychotherapy practices. My favorite part was the text at the end about listening. So lovely. As a former educator, maybe I too was a “help professional”. It often felt that way for sure. And I learned to advise new educators regarding their students, “Listen first. Don’t judge. Don’t react. Don’t get defensive. Don’t start forming a response in your head. Just listen, and maybe ask some questions. Listen to understand.”
Beautifully put. I wholeheartedly agree that being an educator involves more listening than many educators tend to think! Glad the reflection was useful.
I experience chronic but subclinical stress from the unresolvedness of my philosophy of life. It seems there are more countervailing truths to juggle and constantly re-prioritize than I have fingers or attention buckets. Time matters, but the long future mustn’t outweigh the present, yadda yadda etc. why get out of bed. I don’t suppose either a trained therapist or official philosopher can help though. Maybe I’m wrong about the former, I should give one a try. Cheers and keep up the great work and writing.
First, thanks for reading and for your continued support of these notes, Brian!
As for your predicament, it's so hard to know what you don't know! It could be an unresolved philosophy of life, or the philosophy could--as I've found in my own case--sometimes be hiding an underlying and more personal dissatisfaction. Curiosity's always a great starting point, and you're richly endowed w that!
Good stuff. Back at SJC and for a while in med school I was interested in the idea of philosophical counselling, but once I started residency and doing therapy I realized how totally different they are. My sense is that philosophical counselling might be helpful for some people, but its results will be pretty modest at best, and for many it will amount to a kind of life-coaching (which is OK if it's genuinely helpful). I understand the urge to move away from more medicalized styles of treatment, though.
When were you at SJC? (I was there as a tutor from 1990-2012.) It sounds like we came to similar conclusions. I think you're right that it's better thought of as a species of life-coaching, and I appreciate your observation that it's yet another attempt to find alternatives to medicalized models of treatment. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
That explains why your name had been tickling , my brain since I came across it. I'd heard of a "Mr. Greenwald" but couldn't put a face to the name. Glad to be acquainted finally!
Another thought provoking post. I’d read the New Yorker article previously. It had caught my attention as I consider myself someone who is practicing Stoicism and very interested in philosophy. But I came away a bit unsure what to think of the described philosophical counseling movement that was described. Your essay helped me connect the dots and better appreciate the strengths and weaknesses. And I was frankly a bit relieved when you described your own psychotherapy practices. My favorite part was the text at the end about listening. So lovely. As a former educator, maybe I too was a “help professional”. It often felt that way for sure. And I learned to advise new educators regarding their students, “Listen first. Don’t judge. Don’t react. Don’t get defensive. Don’t start forming a response in your head. Just listen, and maybe ask some questions. Listen to understand.”
Beautifully put. I wholeheartedly agree that being an educator involves more listening than many educators tend to think! Glad the reflection was useful.
I experience chronic but subclinical stress from the unresolvedness of my philosophy of life. It seems there are more countervailing truths to juggle and constantly re-prioritize than I have fingers or attention buckets. Time matters, but the long future mustn’t outweigh the present, yadda yadda etc. why get out of bed. I don’t suppose either a trained therapist or official philosopher can help though. Maybe I’m wrong about the former, I should give one a try. Cheers and keep up the great work and writing.
First, thanks for reading and for your continued support of these notes, Brian!
As for your predicament, it's so hard to know what you don't know! It could be an unresolved philosophy of life, or the philosophy could--as I've found in my own case--sometimes be hiding an underlying and more personal dissatisfaction. Curiosity's always a great starting point, and you're richly endowed w that!
Good stuff. Back at SJC and for a while in med school I was interested in the idea of philosophical counselling, but once I started residency and doing therapy I realized how totally different they are. My sense is that philosophical counselling might be helpful for some people, but its results will be pretty modest at best, and for many it will amount to a kind of life-coaching (which is OK if it's genuinely helpful). I understand the urge to move away from more medicalized styles of treatment, though.
When were you at SJC? (I was there as a tutor from 1990-2012.) It sounds like we came to similar conclusions. I think you're right that it's better thought of as a species of life-coaching, and I appreciate your observation that it's yet another attempt to find alternatives to medicalized models of treatment. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
I graduated 2011. I think we just happened not to cross paths although all my classmates raved about having class with you!
That explains why your name had been tickling , my brain since I came across it. I'd heard of a "Mr. Greenwald" but couldn't put a face to the name. Glad to be acquainted finally!