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NPCA

NPCA

National Philosophical Counseling Association

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    • LBT Workshops
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About Us

The National Philosophical Counseling Association (NPCA), formerly the American Society for Philosophy, Counseling, and Psychotherapy (ASPCP), is the first association of philosophical counseling in the United States.  It was founded by American philosophers Elliot D. Cohen and Paul Sharkey in 1992.  Established under the auspices of the American Philosophical Association (APA), it met regularly for more than two decades at the Eastern, Central and Pacific APA meetings.  The NPCA was also the first U.S. association of philosophical counseling to begin to certify philosophical counselors.

The key note of the NPCA has always been that philosophical and psychological forms of counseling are complementary and mutually supportive avenues for helping people to confront their problems of living.  Thus, from its inception, it has sought to bring philosophers and mental health practitioners (including social workers, psychologists, mental health counselors, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurses) together to share ideas and make inroads to more efficacious modes of helping.

The NPCA does not maintain that philosophical counseling is a substitute for psychological counseling.  Accordingly, it maintains that counselees may consult philosophical practitioners for help in exploring problems raising philosophical questions such as mid-life crises, career changes, stresses of everyday life, physical illness, death and dying, aging, meaning of life, and morality.  For more information on the NPCA’s position on the relationship between philosophical and psychological counseling click here.

For more than two decades, the NPCA has provided a national forum for the development, publication, and delivery of the literature on philosophical counseling, including the nation’s preeminent journal of philosophical counseling, the International Journal of Philosophical Practice (IJPP).  The NPCA has also been the source of standards of practice in the U.S., including a code of ethics and certification standards.

Today, more than ever before, with the economic downturn and the rising need for affordable therapy, philosophical counselors have an opportunity to lend a hand.  Philosophical training alone does not equip someone to be a successful and qualified philosophical counselor, however.  Having philosophical expertise is one thing and knowing how to put these skills to work to help a counselee to address a problem of living is still another thing.  The NPCA, through its team of affiliated philosophers and mental health practitioners, have the ability to help philosophers seeking to become philosophical counselors to acquire the additional skills that are needed.  The NPCA is also allied with the REBT network, including some of the original trainers of the famous Albert Ellis Institute in New York City, who are on board to provide their counseling expertise.

With its affiliation with the Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation Institute, the NPCA now has the facility to offer primary and advanced certificate training programs in Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), a modality of philosophical counseling that develops and applies the philosophical aspects of cognitive-behavior approaches, including the rigors of logic and the vast domain of philosophical theories, to help people address their problems of everyday living.

If you have a doctorate or a master’s degree in philosophy, and have an interest in philosophical counseling or practice, we cordially invite you to become a member of the NPCA.  If you are a licensed mental health practitioner who is interested in expanding your practice to include the benefits of a philosophical approach, then we cordially invite you to become a member of the NPCA.  If you have either of the aforementioned credentials and have an academic interest in philosophical counseling, including writing for the IJPP or participating in the NPCA’s periodic world conferences or regular national meetings, then you are also cordially invited to join the association.  Last, if you are a philosophy student or a student pursuing a career in mental health, then you are welcome to become a student associate.

To access the membership application click here.

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NPCA MEMBERSHIP & RENEWAL

To pay or renew your NPCA membership dues, please click the button below. Dues are $35 (plus a $1.76 PayPal transaction fee).

Announcements

Elliot D. Cohen, Executive Director of NPCA, speaks to Tia Harmer, host of the Life Management Science Labs podcast, about the effects of demanding perfection on personal productivity and happiness. View the entire talk here.

The Founding Of The European Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation Institute

The Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation (LBTC) Institute in the United States is pleased to announce the founding of the European Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation (ELBTC) Institute as a division of ReCentre, a West University of Timisoara partner. The European Institute shall serve as…. Read more here!

Logic Based Therapy In Healthcare: Using Philosophy To Do And Feel Better

Presented by: Elliot D Cohen, Ph.D., Brown University, principal founder of philosophical counseling in the United States, Executive Director and co-founder of the National Philosophical Counseling Association (NPCA), and President of the Logic-Based Therapy and Consultation Institute.

In the past few years, healthcare professionals have confronted exceptionally stressful working conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have resigned their positions, and many others who remain now suffer from burnout or related syndromes that impede their ability to work in this ordinarily high-stress environment. In this presentation, Elliot D. Cohen, the creator of Logic-Based Therapy (LBT), a prominent form of philosophical counseling, showed how…Read more here!

INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION OF PEACE, CO-OPERATION, AND PHILOSOPHY

This INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION of PEACE, COOPERATION, AND PHILOSOPHY penned by distinguished philosophical practitioners throughout the world casts a bright light on the challenges that lie ahead in the quest for world peace and the multiple roles that applied philosophy can play in meeting these challenges. The pandemic, global unrest, climate change, poverty, oppressive, anti-democratic government regimes, and now a war in Ukraine that has created a humanitarian crisis cannot go unexamined by the world philosophical community. Nor can the latter stand idle while countless human lives, and indeed the very survival of planet, hang in the balance. This Declaration posted HERE (English translation follows Spanish translation) is a manifesto intended to serve as a catalyst to…Read more here!

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PHILOSOPHICAL COUNSELING ASSOCIATION AND MEMBERS OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHICAL COUNSELING AND CONSULTANCY, WEST UNIVERSITY OF TIMISOARA, ROMANIA
REGARDING THE RUSSIAN INVASION INTO UKRAINE

 

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Practioner Directory

To contact a philosophical practitioner in your area visit our philosophical practitioner directory.

Donate to the NPCA

To donate to the NPCA, please click the button below. Please note that a PayPal processing fee of 2.89% + $0.49 will be charged to NPCA for all donations received.

International Journal of Philosophical Practice

Our journal is now open-source and published by the Philosophy Documentation Center!! View the IJPP here!

Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation Institute

For more information about certification, visit the Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation Institute.

India Centre for Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation

Visit the India Center for Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation in connection with Ramnarain Ruia College.

Taiwan LBT Institute

The National Philosophical Counseling Association and the Logic-Based Therapy & Consultation Institute are proud to announce the founding of the Taiwan Institute.

European Logic-Based Therapy and Consultation Institute

Also visit the European Logic-Based Therapy and Consultation Institute.

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