These days “holistic” is an overworked descriptor. In what way is the Socratic Philosophical Counseling model holistic?
As part of a truly dynamic “living tradition” under continual development for 2,500 years, the Socratic Philosophical Counseling model is based on a comprehensive, realistic understanding of human nature. It sees the client as an integrated whole, as a composite of spiritual and material elements, each of which must work in ordered harmony with the others to ensure that self-actualization and personal flourishing we call happiness. As a shorthand, we call these personal elements the “ABC’s”: A for affect (feeling), B for behavior (doing), and C for cognition (thinking). Philosophical counselors do not “specialize” in any single element. Rather, they work with the client as a multi-dimensional whole person whose ABC’s must function harmoniously.
