Announcements

One year (two semesters) Diploma course in Philosophical Practice (For Philosophical Practice Diploma, a candidate will have to take up this course, which is divided into two levels: Level A and Level B)

Curriculum for Level A course (Introductory course)
1. Introduction to Philosophical Practice ( counselling) (Theoretical elements of philosophical counselling)

What is philosophical counselling? What is PC and What is Not? Why philosophical practice   (counselling)?

How PC is different from other forms of counselling? (Clarification of the terms: therapy, counselling, healing, philosophical practice, philosophical praxis, psychopathology-neurosis, psychosis). Is PC a therapy or not?

Existential predicaments, PC is Therapy for Sane, Therapy for Life, Care of the Self

Key concepts of Philosophical counselling: “critical thinking,” “worldview,” “a Socratic perspective,” “wisdom,” “good life,” and “virtues.”

2. What is philosophical about philosophical counselling? Philosophising while counselling

3. A brief history of philosophical practice (counselling)

4. Individual counselling, group counselling and counselling of organisations
5. Qualification, competencies required and characteristics of a philosophical practitioner

6. Dialogue, Socratic Method, Therapeutic value of dialogue

7. Introduction of approaches to philosophical practice

a) Critical thinking approach
Ordinary thinking and critical or rational thinking, common fallacies of thinking, and Cognitive distortions. Theory and Practice of Logic-Based Therapy( Elliot D. Cohen)

b) Socratic perspective

c) World view approach
From Being to Becoming, Beyond the Perimeter, Allegory of Plato’s Cave, Contemplation –Mindfulness Meditation

d) Wisdom approach

e) Virtue approach
8. Introduction of some transformational philosophies of India:

Patanjali’s Yoga as a therapy, Buddhist Philosophical therapy, J. Krishna Murthy, Bhakti yoga as a therapy

Note: After the class, the candidates must practice mindfulness for 10 minutes.
For practical training, each candidate must attend 15 simulated counselling sessions and at least 5 group discussion sessions.
(In these practical training sessions, candidates must develop the art of asking questions (by role play method) and the capacity to interpret and understand the texts (counselee’s content). Candidates use Jatak kathas (from Buddhism) and stories from the Upanishads.

Suggested Readings:

Ram Lahav and M. Tillmans ( 1995): Essays on Philosophical Counselling ( Eds.); University Press of America, Inc, 1995

Shlomit C. Schuster (1999): Philosophy Practice- An alternative to counseling and Psychotherapy; Praeger Publishers, USA

Lou Marinoff(1999): Plato not Prozac; Harper Perennial, USA

Peter B. Raabee (2001) : Philosophical Counseling-theory and Practice ; Praeger Publishers, USA

Sharma, K.L. ( 2016); Manviya yatharth ke swara – in Hindi SPPCSH, Jaipur

Sharma, K.L. ( 2019): Paridhi ke pare- in Hindi, SPPCSH, Jaipur

Sharma, K.L (2024): Transformational Philosophies of India- An Introduction (Hindi), Astitva Prakashan, Bilaspur ( Chhatisgarh)

A Guide to   How to Think Like Socrates: Donald J. Robertson

Curriculum for the Level B course (Advanced course) of Philosophical practice
1. Basic issues of philosophical practice

Human Predicaments: Human relations-I and You,

Meaning of Life, Freedom, Search for authenticity
(These issues should be discussed with the trainees)

Wisdom, wisdom and philosophical practice

2. Methods of Philosophical Practice
(The controversy regarding the method /methods of philosophical practice should also be discussed with the trainees)

Contemplation – Introspection and Meditation

Mindfulness technique

Logic-Based Therapy ( LBT)

Rational Emotive Behaviour therapy (REBT)

Humanistic Psychotherapy (Client-centred Psychotherapy)

Existential Psychotherapy

Logo therapy

For practical training, each candidate is required to attend 15 simulated counselling sessions and at least five discussion sessions.

Suggested Books:

Tim Lebon ( 2007): Wise therapy- Philosophy for counselors, Sage,London

The foundation of Mindfulness- Satipatthana Sutt, ( 1994): Translated by Nyanasatta Thera, Buddhist Publication Society, Sri Lanka

Cohen, D.E. ( 2013):Theory and Practice of Logic-Based Therapy: Integrating Critical Thinking and Philosophy into Psychotherapy, Cambridge Scholars Publishing 12 Back Chapman Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2XX, UK

Albert Ellis (1955): Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: A Therapist’s Guide, 2nd Edition (The Practical Therapist)
Irvin D. Yalom (1980): Existential Psychotherapy, USA

Carl R. Rogers (1951): Client-Centered Therapy, Prime Books

Victor E. Frankl (2006): Man’s Search for Meaning, Beacon Press, Boston

Morten Tolboll ( 2008): Meditation As An Art of Life- Basic Reader, E-Book