In times of war and terror: Philosophical counselling as an alternative to treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

In this paper I question some of the ideas behind mainstream psychological help provided and advocated by the American Counseling Association in situations that can be best described as life threatening. I contrast Post-traumatic Stress Disorder treatment with what I propose as the help philosophical counsellors can offer in crisis situations. I present an elementary description of the relatively new profession of Philosophical Practice, or Philosophical Counselling, and provide examples-taken from my philosophical practice in Israel, from philosophical theory, and from philosophers' autobiographies-that give legitimacy to the claims of philosophical practitioners.