This article considers the philosophical aspects of psychotherapy and argues that philosophy, as a search for wisdom was the first form of psychotherapy. Some Athenian forms of therapy are considered and compared to modern versions of intervention.
The question is raised whether psychotherapy has a future without retracing its roots in philosophical thinking and whether clients can ever really be helped without reference to their deepest life’s concerns and values. It is argued that greater philosophical clarity and more collaboration between psychotherapists and philosophers would be of great benefit to the therapeutic profession.
existential psychotherapy, the philosophic roots of psychotherapy, philosophic exploration
The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.