THERAPY OR COUNSELING? CURRENT DIRECTIONS OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRACTICE

Contemporary philosophical practice, through its new form of expression, philosophical counseling, manifests the interdisciplinary connections with other fields, one of which is oriented towards interference with psychology and psychiatry as branches of the vast field of health care. The concept of philosophical counseling is by its definition intended for healthy people, considered to be clients or discussion partners, who can be assisted by a practitioner to clarify or understand a particular life situation or a dilemma faced, by learning em to develop a philosophy of life. Addressing the same life situation by a specialist in psychology or psychiatry, on the other hand, is required for persons with cerebral issues and 'disorders'. We support the preservation of a direction for philosophical practice oriented towards philosophical counseling, different from the therapeutic approach of other fields. We argue that philosophical counseling and the medical treatment for persons considered 'mentally disordered' are not mutually exclusive, but complementary.