At True4Life we believe that whether the question is large or small, cosmic or pragmatic, philosophy is one of the world's most powerful tools. Philosophy can be used to explore decision making problems, pacify the experience of ethical and existential tensions. Philosophical counselling is the opportunity to gain insight and clarity that lives as your own experience, by making explicit what lays beneath the surface.

 

 

Philosophical counselling is an engaging, (often therapeutic) form of dialogue used by many of the world's great and ancient sages, such as Socrates, Epicurus, Confucius, and Buddha. It examines the meaning of life, the nature of the self, experience and happiness. It clarifies values and attitudes. It scrutinizes unspoken assumptions, and brings to light what was unclear or implicit. Ultimately, the goal of Philosophical counselling is understanding. It is through understanding that decisions can be made and actions can be taken by the individual (or the group). Philosophical counselling can be utilised to explore philosophical problems related to such matters as mid-life crises, career changes, stress, emotions, assertiveness, physical illness, death and dying, aging, meaning of life, and morality. It looks at what is True4Life.

 

However, Philosophical counselling’s diverse possibilities means that it can be utilised on a one to one basis or through group work. The Socratic Dialogue, for example, is increasingly used with managers and professionals in businesses and organisations. It is a co-operative attempt to search for answers to conceptual questions. In this way it becomes a process of systematic reflection upon one concrete example drawn from the experience of the individual or one of a group (by consensus of the group). The goal of which is to agree upon a universal.

 

 

For example, if the question is What is integrity? then the group must determine where lies the integrity in this example. At what step or steps does it occur? Between or among which steps does it occur? and so forth. Following this, the group must decide on a definition of integrity that adequately describes the thing they have located in the example. A working definition is then applied to the other examples that may have been offered but not taken up. If the definition is truly universal, then it will suit each example; if not, then it must be modified accordingly.