The Real
The Real
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To err is human; so also is to yearn. Humans cannot help but to seek for better, for more. Have you ever wondered why this innate drive? Ultimately, we long for the real: real meaning; real purpose; real life. But how to discern the real from the artificial is not always clear, and moving beyond the superficial is difficult. For millennia, philosophers have recognized that person-to-person dialogue enables this pursuit.
Converse means “to turn together” and the Latin ens means “the real.” Conversens (kon-VER-senz) is a conversational practice by which we together turn toward the real.
The Pursuit
The Pursuit
If philosophy is thought about at all today, it is usually only to consider it a poor choice for a degree. Philosophers are those who write big books about largely useless topics. But this has not always been so.
Classically, philosophy was considered to be the pursuit of wise living (“philo” = desire; “sophia” = wisdom). Such a pursuit may be likened to an ascent up a mountain. One can begin at any place, and there are various pathways one could take (some well-worn; others less so). Along the way, there will be level ground and steep impasse. There will be dark forests as well as expansive vistas. At times the way forward will be clear. At other times, you will loose your bearings.
Most of the difficult portions of our ascent are of our own making— or, at least, we make the difficult portions of our journey worse. As human, we are prone to rash judgements, hasty actions, and various other self-destructive tendencies. These are "human problems," and very often what is needed to resolve them is clear thinking and formed character, which lead to steady, just, and magnanimous action, and an integrated self. And this is—perhaps surprisingly—where philosophical dialogue is most empowering.
The Dialogue
The Dialogue
Journeys of this sort are greatly facilitated by use of a guide. This is the role that the philosophical conversation partner plays. A philosophical practitioner is trained to listen, query, distinguish, specify, evaluate, and draw conclusions about thoughts and feelings you have, the choices you make, and the behaviors you engage in. Through dialogue, we identify rational thought patterns, stable emotional patterns, and life skills which conduce to living well, and then set plans to cultivate these.
The wisdom we seek together in conversation is a vision of things as they really are; that is, insight into true reality. And achieving this wisdom enables a person to begin the process of bringing their own character and life into alignment with reality, of harmonizing themselves with the way things really are. Thus, wise living becomes real living, authentic living.
With these skills, the philosophical practitioner seeks to support you to think clearly, and to form good character traits for choosing and behaving wisely. As you progress further up and further in, I'll journey with you for a bit, offer you what knowledge of the land and of the way as I know, and together we can make joint discoveries about real life.
At a time when more and more people are turning to chatbot-to-person dialgue for companionship, spiritual direction, even therapy, this ancient and traditional practice of person-to-person conversation remains foundational for living real. Dialogue may be imitated by the new technologies, but humans eventually detect imitation (in one way or another). We long for the real.
Confidentiality applies to all conversations and they are subject to the ethical guidelines of the NPCA.
Getting Started
Getting Started
It is important to note up front that philosophical consultation is not therapy (though it is often therapeutic). I am degreed in philosophy and theology, and certified in Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), which is a modality of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). But I am not a mental health professional, and philosophical consultation is not a substitute for psychological or psychiatric help. In an initial consultation (see below), we’ll discuss whether philosophical consultation is right for you and your life situation.
So, the first step is to book an initial consultation, which is cost-free and typically lasts 15-20 minutes. In this session, I’ll learn a little about you and why you are seeking philosophical consultation. I’ll also share a bit more about my practice and answer any questions you may have. The purpose of this initial session is to discover whether philosophical conversation may be helpful for you.
After that, individual sessions are generally scheduled in 50-minute segments. For many, examining a life issue or evaluating a life decision requires only a session or two. Sometimes, when a skill needs to be acquired and exercises need to be practiced, more sessions may be helpful.
Symposium sessions can range from one to three hours (for more, see “Sessions”).
In order to live well, humans must perceive, evaluate, and reason. The goal, however, is not simply to think about things; it is to live. Philosophical practice provides a brief time, a quiet place, and a learned guide to make thinking about more efficient and targeted. But, again, the goal is not to keep you in that place long. It is to get you out, living well, making your ascent.
Rates
Rates
Rates are based upon financial ability. This will be discussed in the initial consultation. The initial consultation is offered at no cost. To schedule an initial consultation, or to learn more:
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