“The things you really need are few and easy to come by; but the things you can imagine you need are infinite, and you will never be satisfied.” – Epicurus
We all face challenges in our lives. We make important decisions, stare down moral dilemmas, and struggle for meaning and purpose.
What challenges do you face? Do you struggle with changes in your life, such as switching careers or navigating new relationships? Are you worried about politics, climate change, or the state of the world? Would you like to get to the heart of issues of meaning or self-empowerment? Are you trying to find the path to an authentic life?
Even the strongest among us face these issues. But in working through them, have you ever considered talking to a philosopher?
Read on to see why philosophical counseling might be the right path for you.
The Basics of Philosophical Counseling
Philosophical counseling is a way to approach the questions of everyday life in a structured, rational manner using the tools of philosophy. These tools include: defining and clarifying terms, examining beliefs, identifying assumptions, and evaluating thoughts and actions. In short, we use critical thinking and conceptual analysis to help you approach your questions in a logical way.
In ancient times, the purpose of philosophy was to promote eudaimonia, or flourishing in life. The goal of philosophical counseling is to bring you closer to finding the way forward – the way to eudaimonia. It’s about helping you live your best life.
Unlike psychiatry, psychology, or psychotherapy, we don’t treat mental illness or issues of emotional regulation or disorder. Philosophical counselors aren’t trained in medicine and don’t offer diagnoses. We’re here for people looking for clarity on life’s issues who do not primarily suffer from mental illness, clinic depression, phobias, or debilitating anxiety.
A philosopher can help you work through everyday problems with dialogue and philosophical practice.
If this sounds like what you’re seeking, philosophical counseling may be for you.
Issues Addressed in Philosophical Counseling
In our sessions, we can work on many different topics:
Ethical dilemmas in personal life or career
Midlife struggles
Fear of change or death
Political activism
Personal or political conflict
Career or life purpose
Meaning or path in life
Clarification of values
Gender or racial identity
Any philosophical issue of interest to you
In addressing these topics, we’ll also get at the heart of any key philosophical questions you face in your life:
What is a meaningful life?
What is my philosophy of life?
How do I stay authentic to myself while fulfilling my duties to others?
What is the nature of love or friendship?
Does death have meaning for us?
What does it mean to be a man, woman, or non-binary person?
Rates
My standard rate for philosophical counseling is $100 per session, with a typical session length of 45-50 minutes. Sessions will take place over Zoom. While I live in Iowa City, Iowa, I accept clients from anywhere in the US and the world. I offer a sliding scale for clients for whom this amount constitutes a financial burden. Please inquire on the form below, and we’ll discuss the scale in more detail.
About Matt L. Drabek
Hi, I’m Matt.
I’m a philosophical counselor certified by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. I’ve studied philosophy, political science, and the rhetorics of inquiry at Indiana University and The University of Iowa, earning my PhD in philosophy in 2012.
I spent 5 years in the classroom teaching critical thinking, reasoning, ethics, and political philosophy. My philosophical work has focused on issues in feminist philosophy and philosophical issues in the social sciences, including the philosophy of psychiatry and mental health. This work has resulted in the publication of two books – Classify and Label and Left Foreign Policy. You can learn more about these books here, so click one of the links if you’re interested.
These days I work in educational assessment. And I’m a member of the Board of Directors of my local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. I live in Iowa City with my partner. So, say hello if you see me around!
Contact
Are you ready to find out what the tools of philosophical counseling can do to help you work on your everyday questions and issues? Are you ready to take steps toward your own flourishing, your eudaimonia?
If so, please email me at , or fill out this contact form.
FAQs
No. There are some important differences between philosophical counseling and therapy. For one, a philosophical counselor is not a mental health care provider. I neither diagnose nor treat mental illness, nor am I able to help with issues such as severe anxiety, emotional regulation, or phobias. Many therapists, by contrast, focus on exactly those issues. If your main concern relates to one of these things, it’s best to see a psychotherapist trained in CBT or a psychiatrist trained in medicine.
A psychiatrist is a doctor who can diagnose and treat mental illness and/or brain disorders. Psychotherapists help clients work through emotional issues and disorders. Philosophical counselors, by contrast, specialize in issues related to rational decision making, problem solving, or ethics and morality. You might think of us as a resource for those who either don’t need the help of a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, or who have completed a course in psychotherapy and want to achieve a deeper goal in life. However, if you’ve ever been in therapy, you might notice a few similarities between what we do and what psychotherapists do in a session. For instance, both often engage in talk therapy, and some therapeutic techniques (e.g., CBT) were highly influenced by certain philosophical schools (e.g., Stoicism).
No. Health insurance companies don’t cover philosophical counseling, and so I’m unable to accept any form of insurance for philosophical counseling services. The reasons for this are complicated, but the short answer is that the health insurance system in the U.S. doesn’t understand or recognize the value of general wellness and well-being. Philosophical counseling is an educational service rather than a form of health care, and insurance companies fail to recognize the value of education for a person’s life.
Generally I do Zoom sessions, but I’m willing to do in-person sessions if you’d prefer. If you’re local to Iowa City, Iowa and prefer in-person sessions, let me know! It’s something we can discuss.
I lean toward a few philosophers, and certain views or systems tend to work best in philosophical counseling sessions. In speaking with clients, I tend to draw on classical eudaimonistic philosophers, such as Epicurus, Aristotle, and the Stoics. While society puts certain stereotypes on those philosophers – Stoics as unemotional or Epicureans as gluttonous – you’ll find that their actual views are much more conducive to living a good life. I also integrate the modern study of critical thinking and reasoning. Above all, I work with the client and adapt to the client’s needs. This includes drawing on a wide range of philosophers in order to tailor our sessions specifically to your needs.
Yes. I’m certified by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association as a Fellow. You can read our code of ethics here.
Typical sessions take the form of a dialogue between client and counselor. You’ll notice similarities to talk therapy, if you’ve ever seen a therapist. Each session runs about 45-50 minutes. In the first session, we’ll take extra time up front to make sure we’re a good fit for one another. After that, I’ll ask you about the major issues you report. We might discuss a reading or assignment. If you’re interested in a particular philosopher or philosophical approach, we’ll focus on that. You’ll always be an active participant in our sessions, and we’ll make time to discuss any issue that’s important to you.
Each client is different, and so we’ll look at your case together and decide on the right number of sessions. It’s rare for any client to need only one session, but many clients fall in the range of 2 to 8 sessions. Sessions tend to range from once per week to once per month.
There’s significant evidence that particular philosophical counseling modalities work for particular client problems. For instance, a randomized controlled trial suggests that logic-based therapy reduces anxiety.
Yes, it is! My background is in philosophy, and I’d love to talk with you about a philosopher or philosophical movement. If talking about philosophy is your main goal in a session, just let me know. I can take some time to prepare a reading or some thoughts on the topic you’re interested in.
