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Examine your life through philosophical dialogue and inquiry
Philosophical Counseling
A space for people who want to raise above the norm of being simply functional.
Philosophical Counselling is not therapy nor coaching
  • -1-
    Reorients Life
    Therapy helps you heal the past, coaching helps you reach goals, philosophical counseling helps you understand what kind of life is truly worth wanting.
  • -2-
    Deepens Selfhood
    Therapy asks what you think and feel, coaching asks what you want to achieve, philosophical counseling asks what kind of person are you choosing to become.
  • -3-
    Transcends Normality
    Therapy helps you adapt and function, coaching helps you achieve and perform, philosophical counseling helps you transcend the everyday attitude and develop a philosophical way of life.
KEY DIFFERENCE:
Rather than helping people become "normal" and adapt to whatever is happening in their lives, a philosophical practice initiates a vertical movement, a form of transcendence. It shifts us from the everyday attitude to a philosophical attitude, which eventually becomes a philosophical way of life.

The mission of philosophical practice is to go beyond normality and beyond mere functionality.

Read more about the difference between Philosophical Counselling, psychotherapy and coaching here.
How I Work
  • One question - One session
    Each session is centered around one clearly formulated question or problem that you bring. This helps keep the conversation focused and allows us to explore the topic in depth rather than moving between multiple themes. Think of the question ahead of the session.
  • I combine philosophy, psychology and bibliotherapy
    Philosophy gives us the perspective, elements from psychology help us understand inner patterns and emotional responses, and bibliotherapy turns the reading experience into a structured process of self-reflection and personal change.
  • No prior knowledge of philosophy is needed
    This is not a philosophy lecture or debate, but a guided process of philosophical inquiry inspired by Socratic dialogue. Your reading list may include selected excerpts from philosophical works, not for academic study, but to help you broaden your perspective and deepen your reflection.
  • The outcome
    By the end of the session many people experience greater clarity about their question, a broader perspective on their situation, and a more coherent understanding of their own position. Often this leads naturally to new insights or directions for action.
Pricing
1 session costs 150 EUR and takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Meetings can take place online (video-call) or offline in Amsterdam.
About me
Tamara Markova, PhD
  • PhD in Organizational Learning and Behavior
  • Professionally trained in Philosophical Counselling (university degree)
  • Background: practicing psychologist and bibliotherapist
  • Founder of "The Book Society". More information here: www.thebooksociety.eu
  • Ex-Lecturer at the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universitiet
  • Ex-top manager and BoD member in large multinationals (M&A, corporate strategy and planning)
Thoughts and Ideas
Contact Form
For questions, comments, proposals and registration.
Contact details:
WhatsApp: +31643006572
philosophycounselling.com@gmail.com
Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Working worldwide online