Philosophy in Philosophical Counseling: Unasked Questions, Open Answers offers a base for criticizing approaches to philosophical counseling that fail to be philosophical or relevant to the counselees' concerns. It analyses the impact of tacit, unexamined, philosophical assumptions and examines their influence on the search for solutions, while explaining how such assumptions may obstruct that search. Ora Gruengard argues that conversations in which the participants disagree with each other are the adequate context for calling tacit assumptions into question and exploring alternatives. Her research shows how philosophical assumptions change in informal conversations and illuminates their important role in education, religious guidance, and psychological treatments. Nevertheless, philosophical issues are best dealt with in explicit philosophical dialogues in which counselees are respected as philosophical partners who are encouraged to think critically and make their own judgments. This book addresses counselors' dilemmas by presenting examples of hypothetical counseling conversations and true sessions with real people. Gruengard also discusses what kind of philosophical knowledge and expertise is necessary for doing the job adequately.

With contributions from eighteen professional women counselors from twelve different countries, this book is the first to provide an overview of new-born philosophical practices from an entirely female perspective. It gives voice to women's thoughts and brings to the reader a living portrait of philosophy as a service to people and a training for those in search of a fully lived existence. As the authors draw on first-hand experience, their philosophical analyses intertwine with changes in attitudes and real-life stories, unearthing that forgotten soul of philosophical thought which our ancestors referred to as the Anima. The book provides a lively, sprightly and vivacious picture of how philosophy is used in practice, a long way from the rigidness and stereotypical severity of its traditional image. It will not fail to inspire readers to live their thoughts and think their lives.