PHILOSOPHY AS IF IT MATTERS - THE PRACTICE OF PHILOSOPHICAL COUNSELING

At the close of this psychotherapeutic century, an alternative to psychotherapy has begun to emerge: the use of philosophy as guidance in order to ameliorate everyday life situations. This new approach to so-called psychological problems, consisting of various forms of open-ended dialogue and reflection on life, may prevent or resolve many of the ''illnesses'' for which people seek psychiatric or psychological treatment. If successful, philosophical counseling would mark not only a radical shift in the direction of psychological care, but a radical return to the original, practical purposes of philosophy.