A struggle is only a struggle, a path is only a path. Their purpose may be far more beautiful than we could ever realize.
–Emily Hargrove, MPhil, APPA certified philosophical practitioner
What is Philosophical Counseling?
First and foremost, philosophical counseling prefers to strengthen mental well-being. Instead of seeing the person as a list of symptoms or behaviors, philosophical counseling sees the whole-person, capable of self-compassion and in need of understanding. In this spirit, the philosophical counselor aims to journey alongside the person who strives toward a sense of clarity, meaning, or purpose. Many circumstances arise in life that can cause a person to wrestle with questions. Philosophical counseling can awaken someone to seek a deeper understanding in themselves and the world around them, and in doing so, support well-being.
What Can Philosophical Counseling NOT do?
Although a philosophical counselor is trained to be an excellent listener and to ask appropriate questions, philosophical counseling does not aim to tell the client what to do nor to give advice. Similarly, philosophical counseling does not seek to uncover symptoms to reach a diagnosis, thereby leaving room for deep philosophical discussion, every day dilemma solving, and everything in between.
Who is Emily Hargrove, Your Philosophical Counselor?
Emily is someone who seeks to cultivate the strengths of each individual, valuing the uniqueness that they bring to the table. As an individual who has living experience with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, she is uniquely qualified to employ understanding and empathy toward those who have lived lives with challenges either seen or unseen. Emily, a lifelong, passionate learner, embraces each opportunity to learn more about psychology, philosophy, as well as research, but believes that compassion should take precedence over intellect. She will meet you with both knowledgeable energy as well as a calming persona, calling on her years of training and expertise as well as faith to approach each session as well-roundly as possible.
What Can I Expect in a Philosophical Counseling Session?
With philosophical counseling, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment plan. With that said, what you can expect is an initial “meeting” session via Zoom where we can simply get to know each other and determine if philosophical counseling will be a good fit. Provided we feel continued sessions are appropriate, we will continue via Zoom with our full sessions. Like traditional counseling, we can choose to meet once a week or decide the issue at hand does not need regular weekly sessions. As a client, you can choose if you would like to meet regularly or choose to schedule sessions on an as-needed basis. Each session will remain confidential, so you can feel confident your personal information will not be shared.
Are You a Match for Philosophical Counseling?
If you desire to pursue meaning and/or gain problem solving, philosophical counseling could be a great fit for you. Philosophical counseling cannot only help with immediate concerns but awaken the inner philosopher, giving you an environment where you can strengthen critical thinking skills and freely share with a caring listener.
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