About Curious Soul Philosophy

Curious Soul Philosophy was created in 2015 as a place to explore "philosophy as a way of life" for all those wishing to direct their own lives with critical reflection, intentional choice, and creative experimentation. Curious Soul approaches philosophy not as a narrowly defined academic discipline, accessible only to an exclusive university crowd, but as a daily practice of reflection, critical examination, conversation, and good-humored trial and error. Through individual counseling, small-group workshops, and retreats, we pursue the practical value of philosophy for everyday struggles, big life crises, and enduring quests.

About the Founder, Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D.

Monica Vilhauer is a philosophical counselor, educator, and writer. After earning her B.A. in philosophy at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR and her Ph.D. at the New School for Social Research in New York, she went on to teach philosophy at Roanoke College in Virginia. She earned tenure in 2012 and the college's prestigious Exemplary Professional Achievement Award in 2013. Monica is also certified in philosophical counseling through the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. She now leads philosophy workshops and retreats, and offers one-on-one philosophical counseling for adults.

Monica's philosophical interests range from ethics and social-political philosophy, to the philosophy of dialogue and communication, ancient Greek philosophy, feminist philosophy, existentialism, and the philosophy of nature. She is author of a number of academic articles and a book on the ethical dimensions of dialogue, entitled Gadamer's Ethics of Play: Hermeneutics and the Other (Lexington Books, 2010).

After teaching college courses for over a decade, Monica set out to expand the discipline of philosophy beyond the classroom, connect it to lived experience, and make it accessible to a broad audience. She created Curious Soul Philosophy in 2015 — based in Portland, Oregon — in order to develop philosophy as a way of life and focus on philosophy's practical value.

Monica sees herself as a lifelong student of philosophy and an enthusiastic asker of questions. She sees philosophy not as a series of pre-packaged answers, but as a process of inquiry, examination, and experimentation.

As a workshop leader, Monica is an experienced guide that can help participants navigate what might seem like impenetrable texts, so that insights may be unlocked, assessed, and applied to life. As a philosophical counselor, Monica can help clients work through questions surrounding meaning and purpose, values and ethics, identity, self-development, and empowerment. In one-on-one consultation, Monica is a partner in critical and creative thinking, and a fellow traveler on the journey to build a more deliberate and authentic life.

Monica Vilhauer's Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York
  • Certified in Philosophical Counseling through the American Philosophical Practitioners Association
  • Over a decade of teaching experience in philosophy and gender studies as a college professor (earned tenure at Roanoke College in Virginia)
  • Over a decade of coaching college students in critical thinking, analytical writing, effective communication skills, ethics and values, issues surrounding gender and gender inequity, academic and life direction.
  • A number of published articles on ethics and communication, and a book called Gadamer's Ethics of Play: Hermeneutics and the Other (Lexington Books, 2010)
  • Co-creator of the Gender & Women's Studies program at Roanoke College
  • Winner of Roanoke College's "Exemplary Professional Achievement Award"

Ready to ask the big questions?