FAQ
WHY THERAPY ?
Most people develop a sense of emotional distress at some point in their lives, whether minor or major, professional or personal, short-lived or long-lasting. The crucial question therefore is not whether one has a problem, but rather whether one can overcome it on one’s own. Emotional distress often implies that it cannot be solved in isolation. An outside perspective can help to view it not merely as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to strengthen one’s personality and grow as an individual.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THERAPY?
The philotherapeutic approach encompasses not only recognizing and addressing individual problems on a personal level but also situating them within a context that opens up a new perspective and a better way of relating to themselves and the world. Absolute openness and trust within the client-therapist relationship play the key role here, to understand oneself better by being able to think the unthinkable and speak the unspeakable.
HOW LONG DOES A THERAPY LAST?
This mainly depends on what the client expects from the therapy. Based on ancient philosophical concepts such as the Socratic dialogue and the search for meaning, philotherapy is not necessarily intended for acute crises involving severe distress. It is rather dedicated to the continuous improvement of one’s life situation and well-being. Consequently, beyond the tangible improvement of one’s distress, which might be achieved in a matter of weeks or months, therapy could also be viewed as an ongoing relation in which the therapist becomes a trusted confidant whom one consults at irregular intervals.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST SESSION?
The first session focuses primarily on getting to know one another and discussing the underlying motivation that forms the prerequisite for any therapeutic collaboration. In philotherapy, in which an emotional anamnesis plays as much a central role as the biographical one, the pace at which clients open up is left entirely to them.
WHAT HAPPENS IN GROUP THERAPY?
Group therapy is particularly well-suited for clients who spend much of their daily lives alone and lack the opportunity to share their views with others. Given that loneliness in today's world has become a kind of "societal syndrome", opening up often feels easier within a group setting. Unlike individual therapy, group therapy socializes one's personal disorders, allowing clients to view their own problems in a different context.
WHY IS PHILOTHERAPY CALLED PHILOTHERAPY?
Derived from its origins in ancient Greece, the term "Philotherapy" combines two fundamental elements. First, the prefix "philo", as in philosophy, signifies a love for something. While philosophy embodies the love of wisdom (sophos), philotherapy stands for the love for therapy. In its original sense, therapy (therapeia) is understood as "service to the individual" which is distinct from the love of humanity as such (philanthropy). It is specifically intended to benefit the individual. The philotherapist thus serves their fellow human beings by offering attention and counsel, helping them gain the insight essential for a good life (Eudaimonia).
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THERAPY AND COACHING?
The fundamental difference lies in the nature of the problem the client wishes to address. Philotherapy generally focuses on deeper, more complex issues, whereas coaching specifically targets acute problems and aims for short-term reframing.
In general terms, one could say that philotherapy pursues long-term goals, while coaching is intended to facilitate short-term solutions.