A New Year’s Call to Courage and Action

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we welcome 2025, we stand at the threshold of new possibilities—a time to reflect, reset, and take bold steps toward a better and brighter future. 

To truly move forward, we must embrace one of the most transformative acts of self-growth: confronting the uncomfortable truths about ourselves, our lives, and our impact on the world around us.

Philosophy in Daily Life: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Challenges

A Review of Plato, Not Prozac!: Applying Eternal Wisdom to Everyday Problems by Lou Marinoff.

In today’s world, the increasing reliance on medication to address life’s challenges reflects a troubling trend—the medicalization of human struggles. From managing anxiety to coping with grief, we often turn to quick pharmaceutical fixes rather than exploring deeper, more meaningful solutions. 

Dissatisfied Human or Satisfied Pig? The Pursuit of Higher Fulfillment

December 30, 2024.

As we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome a new year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on Socrates’ timeless insight into the human condition. 

His words challenge us to embrace the deeper purpose of life, even when it brings dissatisfaction.

From a philosophical counseling perspective, Socrates' statement, "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied," invites reflection on the nature of human fulfillment versus mere gratification. 

Existential Inquiry!

 

Existential inquiry involves deep reflection and questioning the nature of existence, identity, and purpose. It also serves as a therapeutic approach, supporting individuals grappling with demoralization, uncertainty, or vulnerability.

Philosophical Counseling: Navigating Through the Fog?

 In our ever-changing and ever-evolving world, we are often overwhelmed with countless options and the constant pressure to do more, achieve more, and work more. 

This relentless pursuit of success has left many of us feeling anxious and fearful of failure. Mental health issues are at an all-time high, affecting millions worldwide, transcending borders, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Henry David Thoreau and Philosophical Counseling

"To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, 

but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, 

a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust." 

-Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau’s definition of a philosopher offers profound insights into how philosophy can be lived rather than thought about. 

Thoreau suggests that true philosophy is not just about intellectual exercises or founding academic schools of thought but about embodying wisdom through one’s actions and way of life. 

Key Benefits of Philosophical Counseling: Empathy, Understanding, and Well-being

Personalized Sessions: 

Tailored for individuals or couples.

Focused Time: One dedicated 50-minute phone session.

Safe Environment: Secure and confidential space for self-reflection.

Problem Resolution: Addresses and resolves contradictions and self-defeating habits.

Better Choices: Helps you discover better options through a deeper understanding.

Tom Morris & Ibrahim Ozdemir: APPA Agora 9 Philosophy for Everyday Life

Tom Morris is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and holds a double Ph.D. from Yale University and an honorary doctorate recognizing his contributions to public discourse.

After an accomplished academic career at Notre Dame, Tom transitioned to becoming a public philosopher. He has authored over 32 books, including national bestsellers, and has brought philosophy to many of the world’s leading companies.

His notable works include True Success, If Aristotle Ran General Motors, Philosophy for Dummies, The Stoic Art of Living, If Harry Potter Ran General Electric, the acclaimed novel The Oasis Within, Socrates in Silicon Valley (a book about Steve Jobs), and Plato’s Lemonade Stand (on navigating disruptive change).

Tom’s insights have been featured on major American television networks such as ABC, NBC, CNN, and CNBC, as well as in prominent publications like The New York Times and The Economist. Widely recognized for his engaging approach, he’s often described as the world’s happiest philosopher.

"Rumi's Teaching on Mindfulness and Well-being"

This talk delves into the Sufi poet Rumi's profound contributions to mindfulness and well-being through the lens of philosophical counseling. 

Rumi's poetry and teachings provide a timeless source of wisdom, offering insights into cultivating a harmonious inner life. At the core of Rumi's philosophy is the concept of “presence”, a mindful awareness rooted in the present moment, closely parallels contemporary mindfulness practices employed in therapeutic settings.

What do I do as a Philosophical counselor?

 

A philosophical counselor addresses existential, ethical, and personal questions by applying philosophical principles, reasoning, and dialogue.

While they do not provide therapy in a clinical sense, they help clients explore life's big questions, gain clarity, and develop strategies for meaningful living. Here are some types of questions a philosophical counselor may address:

The Story Behind iCounselor

 The Story Behind iCounselor

 Many colleagues have asked me why I established iCounselor Ibrahim Ozdemir Philosophical Counseling at this career stage. The answer lies in my decades-long journey of teaching and practicing philosophy and its profound impact on the lives of those I’ve worked with.

 For over 30 years, I have taught philosophy, ethics, critical thinking, and philosophical counseling and engaged with students and colleagues on how philosophical thinking can address existential challenges. In these conversations, I witnessed firsthand how philosophy could offer clarity, purpose, and hope.

A Book: Philosophy for Counselling and Psychotherapy: Advice from a Philosophical Counselor

When clients ask me the difference between philosophical counseling and psychotherapy, I often recommend exploring Philosophy for Counselling and Psychotherapy: Pythagoras to Postmodernism by Alex Howard.

This insightful book provides an accessible introduction to how philosophy informs counseling practices and highlights its distinctions from traditional psychotherapy. By tracing ideas from Pythagoras to postmodern thinkers, the book offers valuable perspectives for understanding how philosophical counseling focuses on examining beliefs, values, and reasoning, compared to psychotherapy's emphasis on emotional and psychological healing.

For anyone curious about the philosophical foundations of counseling, Howard’s work is an excellent resource for deepening your understanding.

How Philosophical Counseling Focuses on the Future

Philosophical counseling takes a forward-looking approach, guiding individuals to explore who they are now and who they aspire to become.

Unlike traditional therapy, which often delves into past experiences to understand present emotions, philosophical counseling emphasizes the present moment and the choices that shape the future.

Welcome to Ibrahim Ozdemir's Philosophical Counseling

 I am a certified and experienced philosophical counselor accredited by the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA), offering online and in-person counseling for individuals and couples over 17. My counseling services can be brief or long-term and are available in English, Turkish, and Arabic.

 

My holistic and integrative approach draws on various schools of thought, including psychodynamic, person-centered, existential, and post-existential modalities. I help clients identify their strengths, enhance their capacity for self-reflection, and achieve peak performance in their personal and professional lives.