Philosophical Counseling

Problem solving for Life

Philosophical counseling, unlike psychological or psychiatric approaches, does not seek to treat—nor is it designed to treat—mental illness. If you are suffering from clinical depression, severe or debilitating anxiety, or personality disorder, for example, it is best to seek the help of a medical professional. But most of the issues we face every day are not pathological in this way—they are not the result of mental illness—but rather just a part of life. These include questions and challenges about what career to pursue, or how to deal with a relationship issue or midlife crisis, or how to find meaning in your life, or cope with the loss of a loved one, or resolve an ethical dilemma or to get clear on what fundamental values you hold or ought to hold.

With philosophical counseling, I help you approach such questions in a rational, critical manner. We’ll proceed by examining and assessing your implicit and explicit beliefs (are they justified? Do you have any evidence for what you believe?), teasing out hidden assumptions (does your reasoning trade on an unstated false belief?), and subjecting your general ways of habitual thinking to critical evaluation. My aim is to help you achieve a clarity of thought about who you are, how you should act, and how you wish to live your life through the use of philosophical resources designed to rationally deal with such questions. My additional aim is to help equip you with the tools to tackle such questions and challenges on your own, throughout your life. This is why I think of philosophical counseling as problem solving for life: it helps address the problems of everyday life, and, once learned, can help for the rest of your life.

Historically, philosophy had this important practical focus: the hard work of figuring out what we ought to do or believe was undertaken precisely so as to help us achieve what Aristotle referred to as eudaimonia, or a flourishing life. The philosophical tools of careful analysis and argumentation were employed to help secure answers to these questions with the aim of attaining the best life possible. But recently, academic philosophy has tended to neglect this practical side (though this is changing).

I’m an avid reader of academic philosophy, and respect and value deeply the intellectual work it undertakes. But I also believe that philosophy—both its unique tools and approaches to problem solving, and its rich historical canon—can help people navigate the often confusing waters of everyday life and work towards achieving a truly flourishing life.

I offer in-person sessions in New York City, and video or phone sessions worldwide.

Common Issues Addressed by Philosophical Counseling

rates

I believe that philosophical counseling should be affordable to people of various income levels, and as such I employ a sliding scale for pricing. For an individual, the rate is between $90 and $200 per session; for couples, the rate is between $100 and $300. In both cases, where one falls on the scale is based on 0.1% of one's annual household income, rounded up to the nearest $10.

To figure out your rate, begin with your gross household income. This is the combined income of you and a spouse or committed partner. Please include all forms of income: i.e. wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, interest, alimony, royalties, etc. Once you know your gross annual household income, state it in thousands, and now, to calculate .1% of this number, drop the word ’thousand.” (For example, “One hundred and sixty three thousand" becomes “one hundred and sixty three”). Last step: Round it up to the nearest ten. (“One hundred and sixty three" becomes “One hundred and seventy”).

Anyone who prefers not to deploy the rate scale may pay $200 per session (or $300 for couples’ work).

Should even the lowest rate appear too burdensome for you, please contact me to discuss some options.