PhD Study: Project Title

Philosophical Counselling as a Response to

the Contemporary Crisis of Meaning

Thank you for considering being a part of my research. Should you like to proceed, a reminder to fill in the form at the bottom of this page.

This PhD study (Rhodes University, Philosophy Department) explores how philosophical counsellors understand and respond to meaning-related concerns in 21st-century life—often framed as a contemporary “crisis of meaning”. The aim is to better understand practitioners’ approaches, tools, and perceived outcomes, and to strengthen the empirical foundations of philosophical counselling as a developing field.

Who can participate

I’m seeking practising philosophical counsellors / philosophical practitioners with experience working in one-to-one client dialogue. Participation involves speaking about your professional practice, not private life.

What participation involves

One semi-structured interview (approximately 45–60 minutes, online)
With your consent, the interview will be audio recorded and transcribed
You may decline any question, and you may withdraw at any time without negative consequences
I will ask you not to include identifying details about clients (names, workplaces, locations, etc.)

Confidentiality, anonymity, and data protection

Your identity will be anonymised in transcripts and publications, and identifying details will be removed. Data will be stored securely with access restricted to the researcher, and recordings/transcripts handled in line with university requirements. You may request details about confidentiality procedures and data storage.

Risks and benefits

Risks are considered minimal, as the interview concerns professional practice and does not require personal or sensitive disclosures. Potential benefits include structured reflection on your work, and contributing to clearer accounts of philosophical counselling practice in relation to the contemporary meaning crisis.

Ethics approval

Rhodes University has granted ethical clearance for this study (Ref: 2025-8818-10408). You may request to see the clearance certificate via the Rhodes Ethics Coordinator.

How the research will be shared

Findings will be published in the PhD thesis (Rhodes University repository) and may also be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and conferences. A summary of findings will be shared with practitioner networks (including relevant organisations such as APPA), and participants may request an accessible overview of results.

Please Fill in the Form Below to Participate in the Research Study

Thank you for participating in my research study. Once I have received your form, I will email you with next steps, forward you an outline of the semi-structured interview questions that I will be asking so you can prepare, and set up a time for our interview.