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  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Our Values
    • What is Philosophical Counseling?
    • What to Expect in a Workshop
    • Rogue Philosophers Video Chats
  • Counseling
    • Philosophical Counseling with Monica
    • Counseling for Academics
    • Counseling for Gymnasts
    • Rates & Policies
  • Workshops
    • Workshops
    • Upcoming Workshops >
      • The Search for Meaning
      • Ethics & Sports
    • Past Workshops >
      • Crash Course in Ethics
      • Anger and Forgiveness
      • Nonviolent Communication
      • How to Live Philosophically
      • Buddhism
      • Buddhism in Action
      • Taoism
      • Existentialism
      • Feminism & Freedom
      • History of Sexuality
      • Ethics and Nature
      • Alienation
      • Alienation 2
      • William James: Meaning, Faith & Science
      • Philosophy of Dialogue
      • Roots of Democracy
      • Ethics of Authenticity
      • Color Conscious
  • Retreats
    • Retreats
    • Past Retreats >
      • Spring Retreats
      • Day Retreat
  • News/Blog
  • Contact

 Philosophical Counseling with Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D.

Individual philosophical counseling is a way to explore, in one-on-one dialogues, the philosophical dimensions of your life-challenges and quests, such as:
  • the search for meaning and purpose in your life
  • getting clear about your core beliefs and values
  • aligning your actions with your highest values
  • grappling with issues of identity, change, and loss
  • dealing with ethical dilemmas in dysfunctional situations
  • struggling with alienation, abuses of power, or injustice​
Take heart
It's common to begin philosophical counseling feeling a little "lost at sea," stuck, disheartened, or disillusioned. These feelings are particularly acute in our world today. Figuring out how to handle your personal crises — with a global pandemic, environmental collapse, teetering democracy, and various forms of corruption thrown in — is hard work and takes courage. You are not alone. A more meaningful, 
empowered, and authentic life is possible!

Study your life-situation in the world
In philosophical counseling, we will focus on your struggles and goals as you navigate this world. 
  • Perhaps you've lost sight of what's really important in your life, and you're not sure how to find a new sense of purpose.
  • Perhaps you find yourself caught up in dysfunctional or toxic situations at work, school, or in your sport, and you're not sure whether you should stay or go.
  • Perhaps you feel crushed by the weight of external pressures in your life, and your old ways of coping just aren't working anymore.
  • Perhaps mainstream expectations of success, or the common "scripts" supplied by our culture, just aren't right for you, and you need to find your own way.
You may have some big decisions to make. Together, we will study your problems, your aspirations, your outlook on life, and your potential choices. 

Examine ways of thinking and acting
In our discussions, we will approach problems by examining the assumptions, values, lines of reasoning, and habits of action that inform those problems. We will consider the practical effects of different ways of thinking and work to break the spell of self-defeating patterns, so that more inspiring ideas and empowering habits can emerge for you. We'll consider new perspectives that open up your thinking in productive ways, and
 experiment with putting new insights into practice. Our thinking together will always be directed toward your possible choices and creative plans of action for a more fulfilling life. 
​
Consider insights from the history of philosophy
As we talk, we will bring insights from the history of philosophy into the conversation as they become relevant for our critical and creative thinking. We all need nourishing wisdom that feeds our souls more profoundly than the pop-culture fads of popular media. Philosophy provides that, and does so in a way that doesn't require any particular religious faith. Some wisdom traditions that most influence my thinking are ancient Greek philosophy, ethics, existentialism, and feminism. But you do not need an academic background in philosophy to engage in the process of philosophical dialogue — just a curious soul!

Find your life direction
I am here to bring ideas to the table, ask questions, and help you to discover, examine, and execute your agenda in a reflective and deliberate way. I am here to support you as you make big decisions, put new insights into practice, and evaluate how things are going. My goal is to help you to find your unique direction so you can thrive in your own beautiful way.
Rates and policies

Meet Your Counselor

Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D., Philosophical CounselorMonica Vilhauer, Ph.D.
Hi, I'm Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D. and I have been studying and teaching philosophy for over 20 years. I'm a certified philosophical counselor, a former philosophy professor, and a published author. 

Experiencing the practical power of philosophy
I know first hand the ways in which philosophy can change lives. During periods of intense internal struggle and alienation in my own life — when I was transitioning from high-pressure careers in athletics and academics — philosophical conversations and a whole lot of soul searching allowed me to examine old ways of thinking, get clear
 about my values and the person I wanted to be, and find a new path that was much more authentic and fulfilling. 

​I've watched the same transformation happen for my clients through philosophical counseling, and it is a great privilege to be a part of their journey.

Philosophical counseling vs. psychotherapy
Philosophical counseling is different from psychotherapy in some important ways. It approaches life's problems not as symptoms of sickness, but as predicaments of the human condition that we all face. In philosophical counseling, we take on existential and ethical problems with the goals of enhancing understanding, meaning, and self-determination in our lives. I do not diagnose or treat emotional or behavioral disorders. I do help you to work through big questions that can be at the root of many kinds of human distress and angst, like:

  • What do I really believe and care about most?
  • Are my efforts aligned with my beliefs and values? ​​
  • How can I redesign my life so it is more my own?
  • How can I handle all the external pressures on me?
  • How can I face change, loss, and uncertainty?
  • What do I do about injustice and tragedy?
Dare to ask big questions!
Navigation partner
A partner for your journey
You might think of me as a navigation partner for the uncharted waters of life . . . someone with a lot of good questions, a discerning ear, a box full of critical thinking tools for examining ideas, and a broad array of philosophical perspectives that can open up thinking.

I'd be honored to be your philosophical counselor. I approach life problems with an open mind and an empathetic heart. And I always try to hold on to humor, even when the waters get rough.

Ready to ask the big questions?

Contact Monica for an initial consultation

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Philosophical Counseling with Monica Vilhauer in the news:

Article about philosophical counseling in Oprah Magazine
Oprah Magazine
Article about philosophical counseling in VICE
VICE

What Our Clients Are Saying
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"Monica meets you on every level: She’ll readily engage with any abstract ideas you have about the world or the self, and analyze those ideas with you, but she also has a way of making you feel that she viscerally understands the difficulty of the situations you’re describing. When I talk to her, I have the feeling that I’m talking to someone who is very present, who is on my side, and who has also fought to be able to live her own life on her terms."
"Conversations with Monica feel non-hierarchical. She is working through the questions with you, not diagnosing you or analyzing you."
"I get the sense that philosophical counseling for Monica is an extension of who she is. These difficult topics are a part of her own life, and she is comfortable talking about what is uncomfortable."

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