The Intersection of Philosophy and Therapy

Gerd Achenbach’s Contributions to Philosophical Counselling

Abstract

In the early 1980s, Gerd B. Achenbach pioneered what became known as modern philosophical counselling by establishing the first philosophical practice in Germany. He sought to distinguish this new approach from psychotherapy and was critical of academic philosophy's tendency to be overly theoretical and disconnected from practical concerns. Achenbach advocated a return to the Socratic method, where philosophy directly engages with personal and existential concerns. This paper explores the role of philosophical counselling, as developed by Gerd Achenbach, in addressing personal and existential dilemmas through philosophical dialogue. His Philosophical counselling, distinct from traditional psychological therapies, uses philosophical concepts and methods to help individuals, address personal issues and life challenges. It also emphasizes clarification of values, reflection on life’s meaning, and the application of various philosophical methodologies to improve self-understanding. The paper tries to investigates Achenbach's methods, comparing them with psychological counselling, and assesses the benefits and limitations of integrating philosophy into therapeutic practice.