Ancient Philosophy (Cosmocentric Approach)

Man is seen, conceived and understood as part of the cosmos, in relation to the cosmos
Man is a cosmos in miniature, a microcosm
• There is a proper proportionality between cosmos and man
-- to understand the cosmos is to understand man
-- if the cosmos is made of material stuff, then man is material reality
-- if the cosmos is a duality of the world of things and world of ideas then man is a duality of Body and Soul
-- if the cosmos is one world of matter and form, man is one substance made up of body (matter) and soul (form)
Medieval Philosophy (Theocentric Approach)
• Man is part of nature, cosmos
Cosmos is not seen in itself, not simply in terms of its own consistency, harmony, unity and stability but in relation to God,
the Absolute Transcendent Reality
Though man is part of nature, he has unique and special relationship with God compared to anything, compared to the
totality of things or created order
Man is seen not simply in relation to the cosmos, but in his unique relationship with God and God’s unique relationship
with him
Modern Philosophy (Anthropocentric Approach)
• Everything is seen in relation to man, and man is starting point, point of departure for any philosophical reflection
Man as a subject: the one who philosophizes, the one who knows about nature, about God, has now become the
important, primary, fundamental and central object of philosophical reflection
• Rene Descartes
-- as he was about to consider everything as doubtful, as uncertain and therefore false, it came evident/obvious to him
what was beyond any trace of doubt; that he thinks therefore he exists; I think, therefore I am (Cogito, ergo sum)
Man is a knowing subject, a thinking subject
• Immanuel Kant
-- man is a knowing subject, moral agent, and a subject in search of meaning and purpose of his existence
• George Wilhelm Freiderich Hegel
-- Man is seen in relation to the Geist (Absolute Spirit, Mind and Idea) to its unfolding embodiment and development in
History through a triadic dialectical process
Man is the highest unfolding, manifestation and development of the Geist among individual realities
• Man is the Geist coming to consciousness (Spirit) in 3 forms
1. Subject Spirit – manifestation of the Geist in the finite, individual consciousness of nature, of his action, of himself
2. Objective Spirit - manifestation of the Geist in the world of laws and ethical institutions
3. Absolute spirit – Self-consciousness
--- Human Spirit comes to consciousness of its unity with the absolute Spirit

Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

• Each concrete, individual man
--- is not a cog in a machine, a part of a system
--- not to be fitted into a system
---whose value/dignity and identity cannot be defined, determined in relation to the working and purpose of the machine,
of the entire system.
• Each concrete, individual man
--- whose value/dignity is….
--- in his uniqueness, in his/her being over and above any system.
--- in becoming more and more an individual, a unique reality through the choices that he makes
• Each concrete, individual man
--- never a closed, complete state
--- Each man is unique, irrepeatable individual which stands open to an untenuous, unshaped future.
• Man is INFINITE PASSION
--- makes choices/decisions about himself, about his life and destiny

Plato (430-350 B.C.)

 • Man in his original state was pure soul
Pure soul…
--- soul not related, tied to a body
--- soul exists and could exist apart from the body
--- soul consists of 3 parts/faculties
1. Reason – intellect and will
2. Passion – drives and emotion
Appetite – sensual part
Man as pure soul living in a World of Ideas/Spiritual World was drawn by its appetite downward and was incarnated or
imprisoned into the body
• Man in the present state…
--- A soul imprisoned in a body (soma sema)
--- soul is the essence of man, what makes man a man
--- His body is an unconscious accident, does not belong to his essence and serves as prison (hinders the soul to be what
it is, to do what it can and should)
• Man in the present state…
--- A soul imprisoned in a body (soma sema)
--- belongs to the World of the Senses, world of things
---subject to decay, changes; perishable and temporal
--- dependent on the soul which leads, commands and opposes it

Aristotle (304-322 B.C.)

• Man is ONE SUBSTANCE whose matter is his body and whose form is his soul
• Matter: that which a thing is made of
Form: that which determines a thing to be what it is

Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

• Man is neither his soul apart nor his body apart but the whole which is composed or a unity of body and soul
• But the body and soul are not matter and form of the one substance
Rather, body and soul are two substances
• Man is a soul (rational substance) using a body (material substance)
Soul is united to the body in love, as an ordering, conserving, animating, moving force within

Thomas Aquinas (1226-1274)

• Man is a composite/unity of body and soul
• Soul and body are matter and form of the one substance, man
• Man is a substance constituted by matter which is his body and form which is his soul
• Just as matter and form are constitutive, inseparable elements of any substance, body and soul are constitutive,
inseparable elements of a concrete particular man
• The soul is the form that makes the body a human body as form determined matter to be a particular substance
• The body is the matter which the soul determines, which is determined by the soul
• There is no man without a body and just a soul as there is no substance without matter and just a soul
• There is no man without a soul and just a body as there is no substance without form and just matter
Counseling Disciplines: Counseling is a broad field that encompasses various disciplines, each with its own
focus and specialization. These disciplines include but are not limited to:

 Clinical Counseling: This discipline involves the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with
emotional, psychological, or behavioral issues. Clinical counselors often work in mental health clinics,
hospitals, or private practice.
 School Counseling: School counselors work within educational settings to provide support and guidance
to students. They help with academic, social, and emotional issues, and their goal is to promote student
success and well-being.
 Marriage and Family Counseling: Marriage and family counselors work with couples and families to
address relationship issues, communication problems, and other challenges that affect interpersonal
relationships.
 Substance Abuse Counseling: Substance abuse counselors help individuals struggling with addiction to
drugs or alcohol. They provide counseling and support to facilitate recovery.
 Career Counseling: Career counselors assist individuals in making informed decisions about their careers.
They help with career exploration, job searching, and developing career plans.

Definition: Counseling is a professional, collaborative, and confidential process that involves a trained counselor
helping individuals, couples, families, or groups explore and understand their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and
life circumstances. The goal is to promote personal growth, enhance mental health, and facilitate positive
changes.

Scope: The scope of counseling can vary depending on the specific discipline. However, in general, counseling
addresses a wide range of issues, including mental health disorders, stress management, relationship problems,
career decisions, academic challenges, and personal development.

Goals: The primary goals of counseling are to:

 Enhance Mental Health: Promote emotional well-being, resilience, and psychological health.
 Facilitate Problem Solving: Help individuals develop effective coping strategies and problem-solving skills.
 Improve Relationships: Foster healthier relationships with family, friends, and partners.
 Promote Personal Growth: Encourage self-awareness, personal development, and self-actualization.
 Achieve Specific Outcomes: Depending on the individual's needs, counseling may aim to achieve specific
goals such as overcoming addiction, improving academic performance, or managing anxiety.

Core Values and Principles: Counseling disciplines are guided by a set of core values and principles, which
include:

Core values

 Respect for Autonomy: Honor clients' choices and decisions.

 Do No Harm (Non-Maleficence): Ensure clients' safety and well-being.
 Promote Well-Being (Beneficence): Act in the client's best interest.
 Justice: Strive for fairness and equity for all clients.
 Fidelity: Maintain trust, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.
 Honesty (Veracity): Provide truthful information and avoid deception.
 Cultural Competence: Respect diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
 Confidentiality: Safeguard client privacy unless legally or ethically required otherwise.
 Professional Integrity: Uphold ethical standards and avoid conflicts of interest.
 Self-Care: Prioritize personal well-being to provide effective counseling.

These concise statements capture the key core values in counseling.

Counseling Principles

 Empathy: Counselors must actively listen and strive to understand the client's perspective, feelings, and
experiences without judgment.
  Client-Centered Approach: Clients are seen as the experts in their own lives, and counseling should be
tailored to their unique needs and goals.
 Confidentiality: Counselors maintain strict confidentiality, respecting the privacy of client information,
except when required by law or ethics.
 Informed Consent: Clients should be fully informed about the counseling process, its goals, and potential
risks before they start, and they should provide their voluntary consent.
 Boundaries: Establish and maintain clear professional boundaries to ensure a healthy and ethical
counseling relationship.
 Cultural Sensitivity: Recognize and respect cultural, social, and individual differences, and adapt
counseling approaches accordingly.
 Goal-Oriented: Counseling sessions should have clear objectives and work toward specific, client-defined
goals.
 Feedback and Assessment: Regularly assess progress and provide constructive feedback to clients to
facilitate growth and change.
 Non-Discrimination: Counselors do not discriminate based on factors such as race, gender, sexual
orientation, religion, or disability.
 Self-Awareness: Counselors continuously reflect on their own biases, values, and emotions to avoid
imposing them on clients.
 Professional Development: Engage in ongoing training and education to stay updated with best practices
and ethical guidelines.
 Supervision and Consultation: Seek supervision or consultation when faced with complex cases or ethical
dilemmas to ensure the well-being of clients.

These principles form the basis for ethical and effective counseling practice. They help ensure that counseling
services are provided in a responsible, respectful, and client-focused manner.