We often tend to de-emphasize the role of language in our
lives and in our work. "Sticks and stones can break my
bones but words can never harm me" is an expression
that is used to emphasize the value of action at the
expensive of reflection. This common impression of language
hides an important truth: language is our primary means for
making sense of our activities. Language used to communicate
effectively not only eliminates the need for "sticks
and stones" but opens us to all kinds of creative
opportunities.
Language is crucial in understanding our own blind spots.
It is vital to appreciating the way other people experience
the world. Indeed the more we understand the language that
we use, the closer we come to understanding what we and
others take for granted. And the more we can understand what
we and others take for granted the more we come to
understand ourselves and are able to develop with others a
shared sense of meaning, purpose and vision.
Philosophical counseling is a set of practices that are
designed to enable us to make explicit that which we take
for granted in our experiences. It focuses on the
assumptions that are implicit in the language that we use to
describe our experience, situation, problem, and/or
relationship. Philosophical counseling is of benefit to both
individuals and organizations ready to shift their paradigm
by examining that which is implicit in their experiences.
Dr Steven Segal is a registered psychologist and
practicing philosophical counselor who has numerous papers
published in the field of philosophical counseling and was
one of the first to be registered as a mentor for the
training of philosophical counselors. He is the Director of
the Centre for Meta-Management Pty Ltd. He lectures in the
area of Management at the Macquarie Graduate School of
Management and also consults as an Ethics Counselor at St
James Ethics Centre.