PHILOSOPHICAL COUNSELING TRAINING PROGRAM (online)
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Dr. Ran Lahav
PROGRAM DATES: September 14, 2026 – February 25, 2027
Mondays and Thursdays (3:30-5:00 pm CET)
Contact us at: deep.philo@yahoo.com
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SUMMARY: This is a 21-week training program (September 2026—February 2027), purely online, aimed at training students to become philosophical counselors. It is directed by Dr. Ran Lahav, one of the pioneers of philosophical counseling in the world. Classes meet online twice a week for 90 minutes, on Mondays and Thursdays, 3:30-5:00 pm Central Europe Time. Cost: $440 USD per term ($1320 USD for the entire program). Need-based discounts are available. For questions or to start your application, contact us at deep.philo@yahoo.com. The number of participants is limited.
PROGRAM GOALS: To give students basic knowledge and practicing skills, covering the theory, methods, and practice of philosophical counseling. We envision “wise and skilled counselors” who have both a solid understanding of what they are doing, and the practical ability to conduct an effective counseling process.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Dr. Ran Lahav (PhD in philosophy, MA in Psychology) was one of the pioneers of philosophical practice / counseling in the world. He initiated and co-organized the first ICPP (International Conference on Philosophical Practice) in 1994; He was the first in the world to teach university courses on philosophical counseling; He has published books and articles on the topic and has given numerous workshops and presentations around the world. As part of his ongoing commitment to the field, he founded the Deep Philosophy School and he regularly gives Deep Philosophy activities online and in retreats.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: Karin Fechner is an active philosophical counselor, practitioner, and teacher at the Deep Philosophy School, currently completing her Master’s degree in psychology. She has been active in Deep Philosophy activities for years as a counselor, teacher, organizer, and facilitator of groups and workshops. She has been giving presentations and workshops in various countries, and she co-authored several books in the field.
TIME: This 21-week program (three 7-week terms) begins on Monday September 14, 2026 and ends on February 25, 2027. Classes meet online twice a week, in the afternoons or evenings Central Europe Time, for 90 minutes each meeting. (3:30-5:00 pm Central Europe Time, with possible small adjustments to fit students’ time-zone.)
MAIN TOPICS OF STUDY (Theory, methods and practice, including case-studies, guided exercises, and supervised counseling tasks):
TERM 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PHILOSOPHICAL THINKING AND COUNSELING: Philosophical thinking and practice; History and principles of philosophical counseling.
TERM 2: LAHAV’S DEEP PHILOSOPHY COUNSELING (DPC) APPROACH – BASIC ELEMENTS: “The Power of ideas” in theory and practice; Stages in the Deep Philosophy Counseling process; Useful ideas and methods from psychotherapy.
TERM 3: THE ART OF DEEP PHILOSOPHY COUNSELING (DPC) – METHODS AND SKILLS: Conducting philosophical counseling conversations; Text-contemplation with counselees; Supervised counseling tasks.
COST: $440 USD per term x 3 terms = $1320 USD for the entire program. The first $100 are due with registration. Payment for the first two terms is due before classes begin. Payment for the third term is due in November. Need-based discounts are available.
TO APPLY: Write to us at Deep.Philo@yahoo.com for instructions on how to apply and pay. Application period ends on August 31 or when all places are filled. Late application is possible, but the number of places is limited, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
CERTIFICATE: Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a Philosophical Counselor Certificate on behalf of the Deep Philosophy School. We are a private school, and our certificates are not state-licensed.
REQUIREMENTS FOR JOINING THE PROGRAM: All applicants will be considered, but preference will be given to those with a university background in philosophy, psychology, humanities or the social sciences, or related fields. Life-experience will also be taken into account. Online interviews might be requested too.
THE DEEP PHILOSOPHY SCHOOL was founded by Dr. Ran Lahav to promote philosophical self-reflection, and support an international community of philosophical seekers.
TO RECEIVE UPDATES, add your name and email at: https://forms.gle/EUfEeVjrNR1nA3BW9
FOR QUESTIONS AND REGISTRATION: Write to us at: Deep.Philo@yahoo.com
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAINING PROGRAM
1. “The Deep Philosophy” Approach
In our training program we will learn the main approaches to counseling and philosophical counseling, but we will focus on Ran Lahav’s “The Deep Philosophy” approach. To understand this approach, let us ask ourselves: How can a counseling be philosophical?
One approach (by Achenbach, Gutknecht, Lindseth, etc.) tells us that philosophy means a free dialogue without assumptions. The role of the philosophical counselor is to engage counselees in a free and open dialogue about their lives, without methods and without guidelines.
Another approach (by Van Rossem, Tromp, Brenifier, etc.) tells us that philosophy means logical analysis, or critical thinking. The role of the philosophical counselor is to help counselees analyze their thoughts and behavior.
“The Deep Philosophy” approach, developed by Ran Lahav and others, goes in a different direction. It reminds us that philosophy is philo-sophia, which in Greek means Love of Wisdom. The great philosophers have composed a treasure of ideas about love, freedom, ethics, beauty, meaning, and life in general. The role of philosophical counselors is to use this treasure of wisdom in order to inspire counselees to reflect on their lives deeply. These philosophical ideas are not “truths” to follow blindly, but they have the power to inspire us, give us food for thought, deepen our self-understanding, and expand our lives.
In this training program we will learn the basic principles of this approach, its methods and techniques, using a variety of case-studies and guided exercises. For us, good counselors know both theory and practice. They have practical skills, but also a solid theoretical understanding of what they are doing.
2. List of courses
All courses will include theory, methods and practice, case-study analysis, guided exercises, and supervised counseling tasks.
SEMESTER 1: FOUNDATION OF PHILOSOPHICAL THINKING AND COUNSELING
Monday September 14 – Thursday October 29 (7 week)
MONDAYS: History and principles of philosophical counseling
THURSDAYS: Philosophical thinking and practice
SEMESTER 2: LAHAV’S DEEP PHILOSOPHY COUNSELING APPROACH – BASIC ELEMENTS
Monday November 2 – December 17 (7 weeks)
MONDAYS: Stages in the Deep Philosophy Counseling process
THURSDAYS: Dynamics of the counselor-counselee encounter
SEMESTER 3: THE ART OF DEEP PHILOSOPHY COUNSELING – METHODS AND SKILLS
Monday January 5 – Thursday February 19 (7 weeks)
MONDAYS: Dynamics of Philosophical Counseling
THURSDAYS: The Counselor-Counselee interaction
3. The application process
Early registration is highly recommended, in order to secure your place. Last year we could not accept all the applicants.
The procedure of enrollment in the program consists of three simple steps:
TO SECURE YOUR PLACE:
First, send us an email telling us that you have decided to enroll in our Philosophical Counseling Training Program. Also, please describe briefly your academic and professional background, especially in philosophy and psychology. At this stage a paragraph or two would be enough.
Second, you are asked to pay a registration fee of $100 to our PayPal account. This sum will be part of the payment for the two terms of 2026 (September-December). Our PayPal account is associated with the email: deep.philo@yahoo.com, but to make it simpler for you, let us know and we will send you a “request” from our PayPal account to which you can respond. Once you pay the registration fee, your place in the program is ensured.
BEFORE SEPTEMBER:
Third, if you have taken in the past university-level courses in philosophy, psychology, humanities or social studies, please send us some document (e.g., university transcript) that indicates what you have studied. You may also send us any additional document that attests to your educational or occupational background, or life-experience in general. Although academic background in philosophy is not necessary, those without it might have to participate in several additional short meetings immediately before or after one of the regular Monday or Thursday meeting.
FOR QUESTIONS: Write to us at: Deep.Philo@yahoo.com
TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON OUR PC TRAINING PROGRAM: Add your name and email at: https://forms.gle/EUfEeVjrNR1nA3BW9