Riella Morhayim
Riella’s Motivativation for Her Pursuit of Philosophical Counselling
Riella was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1987. She completed her eight year primary school education, and then went on to high school for four years at Ayazaga Isik College. During this period - while she was studying for her university entrance exams - her motivation and objective was to study philosophers and their views. She went on to be admitted to the Philosophy Department at Bogazici University from where she has graduated.
From the moment she began her university studies Riella very much enjoyed all her lectures and courses. The studies covered many fields from education and marketing, to finance. She also worked as a university assistant. Following this work experience, Riella realized she had a passion and love for philosophy, researching, learning, teaching, and counselling.
During this period, Riella was introduced to philosophical ideas that could be applied to her daily life, and to the lives of the people close to her. She soon discovered that she had unwittingly become - in many of her relationships - the non-professional counsellor. Friends and family members approached her to seek counsel on their problems. For that reason, she now retains listening and counselling skills. She has observed how philosophy works in people’s everyday lives. For anxiety, confusion, and cultural-religious-ethical dilemmas, a touch of the views of relevant philosophers made small miracles happen.
After familiarising herself with the modern practice of philosophical counselling by Gerd Achenbach, Lou Marinoff, Tim Lebon, Peter Raabe, Shlomit Schuster and others, she felt that she had found the path of her life. Riella agrees with their belief that Philosophy is one of the world's most powerful tools for solving problems, for pacifying the impact of ethical and existential tensions, and for providing peace of mind.
Elatedly, Riella researched various fields of philosophy, philosophical counselling and philosophical therapy. She has also taken interest in personal development programs, complimentary and alternative medicine, color therapies, stone therapies, phytotherapy and some ancient energy techniques. In general, she wants to help people, guide them and counsel them, drawing from philosophical contemplations.
Unlike a psychiatrist or psychoanalyst who prescribes drugs, and unlike some life coaches who like to force their personal views upon their clients, Riella aims to assist her clients to achieve natural, authentic, self-generated solutions. She says, "I do not give fish to the starving: I teach them to fish."
During her academic studies, Riella had regularly discussed her philosophical counselling ambitions with her university professors. They welcomed her direction and encouraged her to pursue this path with their helpful feedback and support. Her focus has always been on how to link philosophy to the problems of daily life. This link - practical philosophy - is not addressed by academic philosophy. However, her academic mentors welcomed Riella's independent philosophical counselling studies.
Riella is glad that she has now found her way forward with philosophical counselling through ACP.
Riella's Philosophical Counselling Method
"If I needed to explain myself in a word I would say I am 'curious'. I am curious
about my self, about you and your life, about life itself, about me in general,
about death, about cultures, and about languages, and countries…"
In Theaetetus, Plato wrote that “the origin of philosophy is wonder”. Philosophy begins with wonder, and wonder leads to curiosity and questioning. Questioning leads to investigations of nature and systematic thought (logic).
According to Aristotle, all human beings have a natural desire to know. The desire to know is an essential element for philosophy and wisdom. What Aristotle means by 'the desire to know' is curiosity. Descartes used the term 'admiratio' as the desire to understand. Heidegger claimed that wonder enables us to know and understand the world.
The Greek ‘philosophia’, means 'love of wisdom'. Wisdom is the seeking to understand fundamental truths about the world, our relationships and ourselves. Philosophy is a study that investigates Existence and Reality by raising questions for which we all seek answers.
Philosophical thinking enables us to examine our lives and to solve our problems by shedding light on fallacies and misconceptions. When the problems and their real causes are exposed - with the help of a philosophical outlook that is appropriate to that situation - the solution may appear immediately.
It is not the case that every problem has a solution, but what is possible is the reconsideration of the problem from various different perspectives. With the right standpoint we may overcome our struggles and even regard the problematic situation as 'unproblematic'. Through the guidance of a philosopher, it is possible to broaden perspectives on life, thereby providing a platform for a solution to be found.
Albert Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them”. In order to overcome a problem, it is necessary to change the way we look at it. Since all daily struggles are the nodules of the loop of life, the philosophical contemplation and successful resolution of the small problems may lead us to a better understanding of life and closer to the resolution of our existential problems.
Riella is able to deliver Philosophical Counselling to members of her community in Istanbul,
and to Turkish, English, and Spanish speakers around the Globe through Skype.
Profile
Nationality: Turkish
Place of Birth: Istanbul
Education
Bachelor of Arts
Bogazici University - Philosophy Major
Tilburg University - Erasmus Exchange Program - Philosophy
FMV Ayazaga Isik High school
Work Experience
Social Projects
Seminars & Certificates
Interests & Hobbies
Languages
Born: Istanbul
Based: Istanbul, TURKEY
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