Wegweiser Crisis of meaning · Orientation & support Deutsch

📖 Philosophical life counselling

A conversation about questions of meaning and life using philosophical tools – not a medical service and not funded by health insurance.

Philosophical practice Philosophical life counselling Gerd Achenbach Life counsellor

In brief

Philosophical life counselling (also "philosophical practice", Philosophische Praxis) is a conversation service that uses the tools of philosophy to reflect on questions of meaning, values and life – without a diagnosis and without an understanding of illness. The movement was founded in 1981 by Gerd B. Achenbach with the first "Philosophische Praxis" in Bergisch Gladbach; in 2004 he founded the "Gesellschaft für Philosophische Praxis" as a professional association. According to relevant directories, there are now around 180 philosophical practices in the German-speaking world.

Step by step

  1. Consult a directory or associationPractitioners can be found via associations such as the Gesellschaft für Philosophische Praxis or the Berufsverband für Philosophische Praxis (BV-PP).
  2. Arrange a first conversationA non-binding introductory conversation clarifies whether the format and the person suit you.
  3. Clarify the fee in advanceSince there is no health insurance funding, the number of sessions and the costs should be clearly agreed in advance.

Deadlines

Watch out – common mistakes
  • "Philosophical life counsellor" is not a protected title in Germany and not a regulated training – the quality and prior training of providers varies considerably.
  • The person seeking advice bears the costs themselves; reimbursement by statutory or private health insurance is not provided for, as this is not a medical treatment.
  • If there are signs of depression requiring treatment, philosophical life counselling does not replace medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Self-understanding

According to the much-cited definition by the philosopher Odo Marquard (1989), philosophical practice does not prescribe philosophical doctrines and does not dispense ready-made insights, but "gets thinking going". It expressly does not see itself as a substitute for therapy, but as a separate, non-clinical format for people without a condition requiring treatment who want to reflect on their lives.

Lack of regulation

Unlike, for example, Austria, where "life and social counselling" (Lebens- und Sozialberatung) is a legally regulated trade with prescribed training, in Germany there is no nationwide licensing or qualification requirement for life counsellors or philosophical practitioners. Interested people should ask the person concerned to explain their training and experience.

Who is responsible
  • Self-employed philosophical practitioners (not state-regulated)
Further reading
Faith, spirituality and worldviewAdvice and contact points for a crisis of meaning

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Philosophical life counselling“?
A conversation about questions of meaning and life using philosophical tools – not a medical service and not funded by health insurance.
What should I do first?
  • Consult a directory or association: Practitioners can be found via associations such as the Gesellschaft für Philosophische Praxis or the Berufsverband für Philosophische Praxis (BV-PP).
  • Arrange a first conversation: A non-binding introductory conversation clarifies whether the format and the person suit you.
  • Clarify the fee in advance: Since there is no health insurance funding, the number of sessions and the costs should be clearly agreed in advance.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • "Philosophical life counsellor" is not a protected title in Germany and not a regulated training – the quality and prior training of providers varies considerably.
  • The person seeking advice bears the costs themselves; reimbursement by statutory or private health insurance is not provided for, as this is not a medical treatment.
  • If there are signs of depression requiring treatment, philosophical life counselling does not replace medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.
Evidence
  • Gesellschaft für Philosophische Praxis / Achenbach-PP (achenbach-pp.de), retrieved September 2026
  • Wikipedia "Philosophische Praxis" and "Gerd B. Achenbach" as a general overview, with the primary sources named there
  • On the Austrian trade regulation "Lebens- und Sozialberatung": Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO), as a contrasting example to the lack of regulation in Germany
As of

As of September 2026 · Sources and method

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