Robert Nicholls

BA (Brock); MA (Guelph); PhD (Waterloo)
Continental Philosophy, Existentialism, Social and Political Philosophy, Value Theory, History of Philosophy, Business Ethics, and Critical Thinking

Telephone:
New Westminster Campus: 604-527-5427
David Lam Campus: 604-777-6011

Instructor, Philosophy and Humanities Department, Douglas College

Area of Specialization

Contemporary Continental Philosophy, especially Nietzsche and Heidegger

Areas of Competence

History of Philosophy, Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, Aesthetics, Eastern Philosophy

Publications

Essays on Husserl, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Literary Theory, Taoism, Education.

Current Research Areas

Critical Thinking: a Primer (a textbook for first year college students); Heidegger and the History of Philosophy; Philosophical Counselling

Philosophical Counselling

Since 1987, Robert Nicholls has been pursuing the practice of "philosophical counselling." For the most part, this practice is restricted to one-on-one logotherapy based in Dasein analysis and the broader school of existential psychotherapy, although Dr. Nicholls has also participated in some group therapy sessions. His approach to philosophical counselling is influenced by a number of theoreticians and practitioners, but especially by the work of Ludwig Binswanger and Irwin Yalom. Dr. Nicholls has developed his own approach to self-understanding which is grounded significantly in Heidegger's notions of "autonomy, freedom and authenticity." In addition, he studied extensively the work of Carl Jung with the late Professor Paul Seligman, long-time honourary member of the Jungian Society. Further, Dr. Nicholls has himself completed psychoanalysis with a Freudian practitioner.

The idea of philosophical counselling is based upon the conviction that the possibility of well-being is inseparable from the project of self-understanding, and that these notions need not be taken up only in the context of pathology, where a model of "health and disease" dominates, but should be pursued in the broader, life-long context of the individual's Weltanschauung. Existential psychotherapy is concerned thematically with several aspects of human existence, including death and dying, anxiety, freedom and responsibility, selfhood, willing and resolution, isolation, meaninglessness, sexuality and gender, and transformation. Clients are not engaged contractually, nor are there any requirements to undertake specific behavioral practices. Because of Dr. Nicholls' teaching commitments, he has very limited availability and sees only a few clients at a time. However, anyone wishing to pursue counselling over the internet may contact his colleague and partner, Blain Bovee. Mr. Bovee holds two separate Masters degrees, and has been a practising philosophical counsellor for a number of years. Recently, he has taught and practised philosophical counselling at the Omega Institute in New York state. Contact him by email at: bbovee@rogers.com.