Dr. Uri Henig
Philosophical Counselor
Portland, Oregon

Philosophical counseling offers an alternative approach to dealing with life's issues and concerns. Philosophical counseling is not therapy. It deals with situations and issues that arise in the course of normal human existence. In such situations, the counseling philosopher is an alternative to the pastor, who works within a religious framework, or the psychologist, who usually works within a medical model.

Philosophy could in general be understood as the activity of thinking about our own thinking, trying to clarify and make sense of the concepts that underlie our understanding of ourselves and our situation in the world. Philosophical consulting is informed by the methods and insights of philosophy, applying them to everyday life situations. It seeks to provide an environment for self-exploration, for better understanding of yourself, your thoughts, feelings, goals and concerns. Themes which could benefit from philosophical consulting include:

• The meaning of life

• The search for Happiness

• Self-image

• Inner conflicts

• Emotions

• Identity

• Faith and doubt

• Life decisions

• Goals and values

• Self-realization

• Moral dilemmas

• Relationships

• Marriage

• Family

• Parenting

• Love and friendship

• Sex

• Philosophical mediation

Philosophical counseling is offered by people whose main background and training are in philosophy, and who therefore tend to have a philosophical approach and mind set. It tends to view life problems and issues in a somewhat more general manner, as arising from the normal human condition, and it tries to articulate them in a rational framework . More about philosophical counseling