IPP |Institute
of Philosophical Practices
of Philosophical Practices
ITD |Institute
of Thinking and Dialogue
of Thinking and Dialogue
Institute of Philosophical Practices
3-MONTH COURSE:
PHILOSOPHICAL
PRACTICE & COUNSELLING
PHILOSOPHICAL
PRACTICE & COUNSELLING
October 11th, 2025 – January 20th, 2026
Holidays: December 22nd, 2025 – January 4th, 2026
Another course will follow from February to May 2026 (dates to be confirmed). If you would like to register for both courses at once, please contact us before completing your registration.
Holidays: December 22nd, 2025 – January 4th, 2026
Another course will follow from February to May 2026 (dates to be confirmed). If you would like to register for both courses at once, please contact us before completing your registration.
TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS OF EFFECTIVE THINKING
More than 50 hours of thinking exercises
Practice argumentation, interpretation, problematization, questioning
This course will take you into the world of thinking, where you will discover the beauty of ideas, the art of questioning, and the variety of paradigms through which you can look at the world.
This is a thinking marathon
As a result you will have clearer and more flexible thinking
Core values of the course:
Practice argumentation, interpretation, problematization, questioning
This course will take you into the world of thinking, where you will discover the beauty of ideas, the art of questioning, and the variety of paradigms through which you can look at the world.
This is a thinking marathon
As a result you will have clearer and more flexible thinking
Core values of the course:
PRACTICE
AUTHENTICITY
CHALLENGE
An unexamined life is not worth living. (Socrates)
LEVEL 1: 6 CORe PHILOSOPHICAL COMPETENCIES
LEVEL 2.1: 6 PHILOSOPHICAL COMPETENCIES + FOCUS PRO OR SELF
LEVEL 2.2: SPECIALIZATION IN COUNSELLING OR WORKSHOPS
LEVEL 3: DEVELOp A PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL PROJECT
LEVEL 2.1: 6 PHILOSOPHICAL COMPETENCIES + FOCUS PRO OR SELF
LEVEL 2.2: SPECIALIZATION IN COUNSELLING OR WORKSHOPS
LEVEL 3: DEVELOp A PROFESSIONAL OR PERSONAL PROJECT
Development of 6 basic thinking skills
- ARGUMENTATIONCapacity to justify your ideas, examine other people's thinking process. You can have a brilliant idea about something, but without an argument it is difficult to justify it. Argumentation teaches you to see cause-and-effect relationships and communicate your thoughts to other people.
- INTERPRETATIONSeeing different meanings behind someone's words, being able to view a situation or a person from multiple angles, looking at a problem from different levels and naming it, finding creative ways of understanding a text.
- QUESTIONINGAsking clear and precise questions. Recognizing problems in questions, knowing different types of questions. Turning your idea into a question that will be directed at what you want is an art. Someone who knows how to ask questions is a master of dialogue.
- CONCEPTUALIZATIONNaming a phenomenon or a behavior pattern. Extracting the substance from a text. This skill allows you to clarify speech, highlight the essence, and structure your thoughts.
- PROBLEMATIZATIONAny statement or a question has limits of application. To see these boundaries is to be aware of an idea. The better the ability to problematize is, the higher creativity is. This implies to learn how to formulate objections and questions.
- + SELF-AWARENESSUnderstanding yourself and others better: our reactions to other's words or attitudes reflect our worldview. The ability to interpret these reactions helps us better understand ourselves: how we think, why we think this way, and the limits of our thinking.
Two Levels of Competencies
(Level 1 & Level 2.1)
(Level 1 & Level 2.1)
- Level 1 (Initiation)The first level is an introduction to the fundamental competencies of philosophical thinking. Through practical exercises, you will learn to observe and work with your own thought processes, identify your difficulties, and broaden your worldview. This is a journey of self-discovery that requires confronting your habitual ways of thinking, analyzing your assumptions, and questioning familiar patterns of behavior. You will train core skills such as argumentation, interpretation, conceptualization, problematization, and questioning.
- Level 2.1 (Development)This level is open to anyone who has completed at least one introduction course with us, either individually or through our 3-month course. Its main goal is to deepen your thinking skills while beginning to specialize in philosophical counseling.
You will choose between two options:
PRO: Build the foundations of philosophical counseling by continuing to develop your thinking skills, learning how to question others effectively, interpret their speech and behavior, choose strategies to question them, and understand their psychological and cognitive patterns. This option is primarily for students who aim to become philosophical practitioners and want to prepare for the next level. SELF: Continue strengthening your thinking skills with a focus on self-awareness and existential questioning. This option is mainly for students taking the course for personal and existential reasons, who wish to work on themselves while also learning to explore existential issues through questioning. In both options, you will deepen your practice of questioning, argumentation, and interpretation. You’ll also begin reviewing and providing feedback on other students’ work and reflections, while broadening your understanding of philosophical practice to gain the tools needed to sharpen your training.
Two Levels of Specialization
(Level 2.2 & Level 3)
(Level 2.2 & Level 3)
- Level 2.2 (Immersion)This level is designed for those who have completed Level 2.1 and wish to fully commit to a specialization. You will immerse yourself in one of the following two options:
Philosophical Counseling: Focus on one-on-one dialogue by developing real-life counseling sessions with supervision and feedback.
Facilitation of Workshops: Learn how to design, lead, and facilitate philosophical group workshops.
Both options include shared sessions on advanced questioning, philosophical attitudes, practice and coaching, along with some specialized sessions unique to each option. - Level 3 (Certification)The Certification level is reserved for advanced students by invitation only. Admission is open to those who have completed the full training program and have been approved by the IPP.
Here, the focus shifts to the creation and realization of your own personal or professional project. You will receive intensive individual coaching, engage in collaborative group work, and gain supervised practical experience. This final stage prepares you to become a certified philosophical practitioner or facilitator, ready to apply your skills with confidence and clarity.
Practical Information
(Level 1 and all Level 2)
(Level 1 and all Level 2)
- STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE2 Seminars (Saturday & Sunday, 2:00–9:00 PM):
Opening Seminar: October 11 & 12 — Introduction to the program.
Closing Seminar: January 17 & 18 — Conclusion and final workshops.
2 Lessons per Week:
Theoretical content delivered via texts, videos, and other resources.
2 Exercises per Week:
Tasks with feedback from tutors.
1 Workshop per Week:
Interactive session focused on the week’s theme or competency.
Some workshops will be divided by specialization; others will be grouped by level.
2 Individual Supervision Sessions:
Private 30-minute discussions with a tutor.
Level 1 Only:
1 private consultation during the course.1 - WEEKLY WORKSHOPSWorkshops
All workshops last 2 hours and focus on the skill or theme of the week.
Each level has one workshop per week.
Level 1 Workshops
Monday, 7:00–9:00 PM.
Level 2 Workshops
Tuesday, 7:00–9:00 PM, or
Saturday, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM.
All workshops will be recorded and made available to students.
Recordings can be used to review sessions or catch up if a workshop is missed.2 - WORKSHOPS FORMATDuring workshops, we will work on various exercises. The main objectives are to develop thinking skills, practice identifying and exploring each other’s thinking systems, and enhance self-awareness.
The sessions are structured in a dialogue format, with the art of questioning at the heart of every meeting.3 - PLATFORMSThe seminars and workshops will take place via the ZOOM platform.
Lessons and exercises will be sent to CLASSROOM.
Communication between students and tutors (comments, questions, practical information) will be done via TELEGRAM.
The videos will be posted on GOOGLE DRIVE.4 - TYPES OF EXERCISES- analyzing stories,
- argumentation on different topics,
- writing questions about a text,
- working with real-life cases,
- assessment of someone's profile,
- analyzing consultations,
- interpretation of a picture, of a philosophical text…5 - LEVEL 1 ONLY:
6 WORKSHOPS ON PHILOSOPHICAL CONSULTATIONFor Level 1 students who also wish to get an introduction to philosophical consultation, and thus have a more complete program to prepare for the next level, 6 bonus workshops will be offered during the course.
These will be open only to students taking the "Basic program + option counseling" package.
The 6 sessions will focus on demonstrations of consultations, analysis of existential issues, analysis of consultations, work on philosophical questioning, and work on the person (cognitive and psychological).
These workshops will take place on 6 Saturday afternoons, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
Dates: October 18 & 25, November 8, 15 & 29, and December 6.6
Level 2.2 Specialization
Students enrolled in the Level 2.2 immersion program must choose a specialization option, which will determine their weekly exercises and workshops. Some exercises and workshops will be common to both options, while others will be specific to each specialization.
Students enrolled in the Level 2.2 immersion program must choose a specialization option, which will determine their weekly exercises and workshops. Some exercises and workshops will be common to both options, while others will be specific to each specialization.
Specialization 1: Philosophical Counseling
Develop your skills in questioning and working with speech to engage more effectively in Socratic dialogue with your interlocutors. Become a trained philosophical counselor.
Develop your skills in questioning and working with speech to engage more effectively in Socratic dialogue with your interlocutors. Become a trained philosophical counselor.
Specialization 2: Facilitation of Workshops
Train to facilitate workshops by developing the tools needed for effective questioning and group organization, all under the sharp and critical guidance of our tutors. Become a skilled facilitator of philosophical workshops, working with adults or children.
Train to facilitate workshops by developing the tools needed for effective questioning and group organization, all under the sharp and critical guidance of our tutors. Become a skilled facilitator of philosophical workshops, working with adults or children.
LEVEL 3 (By invitation only)
This level won’t be accessible to everyone, as there are only a limited number of places available. Registration is open exclusively to previous students or clients who have completed a full training program and have been approved by IPP.
Program:
- Development and implementation of a personal or professional project tailored to the student.
- 3 hours of individual coaching per month focused on project development.
- 3 workshops per month, each lasting 2 hours (day and time to be determined by the group). These sessions will include collective workshops, presentations by practitioners, or coaching focused on students’ projects.
- 3 six-day marathons to further develop philosophical skills.
- Weekly feedback on exercises in counselling, workshop facilitation, and profiling.
In total, each student will receive 9 hours of individual coaching, 18 hours of group sessions (workshops or presentations), as well as private feedback on exercises and weekly discussion with their coach.
- COMPETENCIES MARATHONSWe will propose 3 competency marathons during the program (one per month), where you will practice one competency per day during 6 days.1
- COACHING OF PRIVATE COUNSELLING AND GROUP WORKSHOPSWe will propose regular individual coaching sessions, where you will practice with different clients philosophical counselling.
We will propose regular coaching sessions, where you will practice the facilitation of a workshop with a group of participants.2 - WORKSHOPS ON PHILOSOPHICAL IDEASOnce per month, we will propose a workshop on philosophical ideas, on a specific theme or concept, to reflect collectively on some philosophical content.3
- PROFILINGWe will work on how to make a psychological and cognitive profile of a person, how to analyze a person based on a consultation and on some answers, and how to recognize some systems or ways of being and thinking.4
- PROFESSIONNAL TOOLSWe will provide some tools on how to use philosophical practice as part of a profession. Whether as a full-time practitioner, as a high school teacher, as a psychotherapist, as part of an artistic career... There will be some meet-ups with different practionners, that will propose their vision of PP as part of their professions.5
- PERSONAL ACCOMPANIMENTEach of you will receive personal support, guidance and coaching on your journey as a practitioner.6
Many people associate anxiety with thinking, which often leads to the refrain: “It would be better not to think!” In this course, we train you to think well—consciously, rigorously, and deeply—and to enjoy the process. Our tutors work closely with each participant, exploring how you think and how you see the world.
This Philosophical Counseling and Practice course is not just a training program—it’s a lifestyle.
This Philosophical Counseling and Practice course is not just a training program—it’s a lifestyle.
RESULTS
COGNITIVE
- Think more flexibly and clearly
- Find multiple interpretations of a person’s behavior
- Name things more accurately
- Give structured and clear answers
- Notice problems in people’s speech and explain them simply
- Ask effective questions
- Analyze someone’s thinking based on their speech
- Understand yourself and others better
- Switch between tasks more smoothly
- Investigate problems philosophically
- Reflect on yourself and the world in a broader, more engaging way
PSYCHOLOGICAL
- Become more autonomous in your thinking
- Increase your confidence
- Develop greater patience with others
- Improve dialogues with people
- Reduce anxiety
- Cultivate calmness in life and in conversations
- Enhance your cognitive empathy
THREE REASONS TO STUDY WITH US
-1-
Training program that is based on practice 80% of the time
-2-
Valuable feedback on your thinking
-3-
Community for years to come and opportunity to grow as a professional
PROGRAM ORGANISATION
Institute of Philosophical Practices
-
Institute of Philosophical PracticesThe Institute of Philosophical Practices (IPP) is a NGO. Founded more than twenty-five years ago by Oscar Brenifier, PhD in Philosophy, and Isabelle Millon, researcher, its vocation is to promote the principle of "Philosophy in the City": workshops, individual consultations, seminars… in cultural centers, museums, prisons, companies… and as pedagogical tools in schools with children from kindergarten, youth having integration issues, professional secondary schools... The point is not to make a display of erudition, but to learn and practice how to "think for oneself" and to "think with others". Therefore, philosophizing comes to signify a way to be initiated in the construction of thought, to critical analysis, to dialogue, to become aware of the issues of the thought process and of discourse.
Recognized for its competences, the IPP leads activities not only in France, but in various countries, focusing particularly on training people in philosophical discussion. In this regard, Oscar Brenifier wrote a report on Philosophy in the City and in the World for the UNESCO. -
Leila MillonLeila is the designer and manager of this 3-month program, as well as the director of the online courses in English and French. She is one of IPP's main trainers, and regularly develops and creates new courses, trainings and programs.
She grew up in philosophical practice. She has attended many seminars, workshops and different kinds of philosophical work, and has become a practitioner herself over the last ten years. She has also studied music from an early age and graduated from UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal) in music and singing. She leads an artistic life combining music and philosophy. Her main specialties are philosophical consulting and coaching, practitioners training, and art and thinking.
With the collaboration of
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Oscar BrenifierOscar Brenifier holds a Bachelor of biology degree (University of Ottawa) and a PhD in Philosophy (Paris IV – Sorbonne). For many years, in France as well as in the rest of the world, he has been working on the concept of 'philosophical practice', both from a theoretical and practical viewpoint. He is one of the main promoters of the project of philosophy in the city, organizing philosophy workshops for children and adults and philosophy cafés, working as a philosophy consultant, etc. He has published about thirty books in this domain, including the 'Philozenfants' series (Editions Nathan), which has been translated into over twenty-five languages. He co-founded the Institute of philosophical practices (Institut de Pratiques Philosophiques), to train philosophers-practitioners and organize philosophy workshops in various places: schools, old people's homes, prisons, media centers, organizations, business companies… He is one of the authors of the UNESCO report: "Philosophy, a school of freedom". He held lectures and seminars in different universities around the world. -
Isabelle MillonCritical thinking teacher specialized in philosophy for children and education, trainer, consultant (adults and children), director of the Institute of Philosophical Practices (Paris, France) that she co-founded, researcher and co-author of books for children, young adults and adults. More than twenty years ago, she committed herself to promoting the development of critical thinking as a philosophical practice in the city, and mainly in the field of education, where she works with teachers, learners (aged 6 to 18), parents, and players in social and cultural life, in France and around the world (some thirty countries to date). For more than twenty years, Isabelle has been working in France and in many countries on the development of critical thinking as philosophical practice, holding workshops and seminars all over the world, focusing more on pedagogical projects in schools with teachers and learners, training of groups to critical thinking, and mainly people involved in educational, social, political and cultural domains. -
IPP tutors teamDuring this course, you will work with the Institute of Philosophical Practices philosophers team, as well as a team of trainers who work regularly with IPP.
3 types of certificates are provided:
1. IPP certificate for completion of the course.
In order to receive Certificate type 1:
- minimum attendance of 80% of the course.
2. IPP certificate for mastering the competencies required in PP.
In order to receive Certificate type 2:
- minimum attendance of 80% of classes
- minimum of 80% of completed tasks
- high quality of the written tasks
3. IPP certification as a philosophical practionner
In order to receive Certificate type 3:
- minimum attendance of 80% of classes
- minimum of 80% of completed tasks
- high quality of the written tasks
- mastering the facillitation of collective workshops and ability to do a philosophical consultation
- attendance to the 3 levels (level 1, 2 and 3)
1. IPP certificate for completion of the course.
In order to receive Certificate type 1:
- minimum attendance of 80% of the course.
2. IPP certificate for mastering the competencies required in PP.
In order to receive Certificate type 2:
- minimum attendance of 80% of classes
- minimum of 80% of completed tasks
- high quality of the written tasks
3. IPP certification as a philosophical practionner
In order to receive Certificate type 3:
- minimum attendance of 80% of classes
- minimum of 80% of completed tasks
- high quality of the written tasks
- mastering the facillitation of collective workshops and ability to do a philosophical consultation
- attendance to the 3 levels (level 1, 2 and 3)
WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR
Course is made for everyone who works with people
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anyone who wants to improve their quality of dialogue - human ressources, recruiters
- personal growth coaches, business coaches, and so on
- psychologists, psychotherapists, art therapists
- intellectuals
- managers, business owners, CEOs
- people passionate about self-discovery
- people looking for a change of profession
AFTER THE COURSE, YOU CAN:
- Implement techniques and tools for efficient thinking to work with yourself in everyday life
- Understand a person based on a single sentence or question
- Ask relevant, thought-provoking questions to encourage deeper reflection
- Understand dialogues more quickly by identifying problems and how to address them
- Conduct individual or group sessions
- Become a tutor on our course or collaborate with IPP
Program fee (3 months)
You can pay in full or choose a monthly plan with 2 to 4 installments.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us to discuss a possible special arrangement.
Financial agreements are limited, so we encourage you to write to us as soon as possible.
Early bird prices must be paid in one or two installments by August 31st.
Payments can be made via Bank transfer, Credit card or Paypal.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact us to discuss a possible special arrangement.
Financial agreements are limited, so we encourage you to write to us as soon as possible.
Early bird prices must be paid in one or two installments by August 31st.
Payments can be made via Bank transfer, Credit card or Paypal.
BASIC PROGRAM
- Access to all educational material (content, recordings, group chats)
- Feedback on written assignments
- Participation in seminars and weekly Zoom sessions
- 2 private calls of 30 minutes with a tutor
- Communication in Telegram chat for group work, supervision & coaching
- 1 private consultation (for level 1 only)
€1000
€850 until August 17th
Write to us to enroll €850 until August 17th
PROGRAM + OPTION CONSULTATION (Level 1 only)
- Access to all educational material (content, recordings, group chats)
- Feedback on written assignments
- Participation in seminars and weekly Zoom sessions
- 2 private calls of 30 minutes with a tutor
- Communication in Telegram chat for group work, supervision & coaching
- 1 private consultation
- 6 collective sessions on Philosophical Consultation
€1150
€950 until August 17th
Write to us to enroll €950 until August 17th
LEVEL 1 & LEVELS 2:
For those who are interested, 2 more options are proposed in order to offer you the possibility of having individual sessions with a practitioner. As part of these sessions, you can work on the exercises that are difficult for you, you can practice consultation, or work on any other skill of your choice. These sessions last one hour and can be done whenever during the program.
Option 1: 5 individual sessions
Option 2: 10 individual sessions
For those who are interested, 2 more options are proposed in order to offer you the possibility of having individual sessions with a practitioner. As part of these sessions, you can work on the exercises that are difficult for you, you can practice consultation, or work on any other skill of your choice. These sessions last one hour and can be done whenever during the program.
Option 1: 5 individual sessions
Option 2: 10 individual sessions
Basic program + 5 individual sessions
- Access to all educational material (content, recordings, group chats)
- Feedback on written assignments
- Participation in seminars and weekly Zoom sessions
- 2 private calls of 30 minutes with a tutor
- Communication in Telegram chat for group work, supervision & coaching
- 1 private consultation
- 5h of private coaching
€1350
€1150 until August 17th
Write to us to enroll €1150 until August 17th
Basic program + 10 individual sessions
- Access to all educational material (content, recordings, group chats)
- Feedback on written assignments
- Participation in seminars and weekly Zoom sessions
- 2 private calls of 30 minutes with a tutor
- Communication in Telegram chat for group work, supervision & coaching
- 1 private consultation
- 10h of private coaching
€1600
€1350 until August 17th
Write to us to enroll €1350 until August 17th
FAQ
The course runs from October 11, 2025 to January 20, 2026, with a holiday break from December 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
Yes! You can pay in one instalment (credit card, bank transfer, PayPal) or in 2 to 4 monthly instalments. Early bird fee are available until August 31st, and should be paid in one or two instalments.
Yes, there are exams at the end of each level. For Level 1, there is only a written exam. For all other levels, both a written and an oral exam are required.
Yes, three levels of certification are available:
- Certificate of Participation (minimum 80% attendance)
- Certificate of Mastering Competencies (minimum 80% attendance and exercises completed, plus quality of work)
- Certified Philosophical Practitioner (granted after completing Levels 1–3, with ≥80% participation and demonstrated facilitation/counselling skills)
You don’t need to be fluent, but you do need a basic level to understand, read, speak, and communicate in English. Many students and tutors are not native English speakers. If you’re unsure, you can watch one of our videos or contact us to test your level.
We also offer similar courses in other languages if you prefer (French, Spanish, Chinese, Italian and Russian).
We also offer similar courses in other languages if you prefer (French, Spanish, Chinese, Italian and Russian).
Sessions are held on Zoom in the Central European Time zone (Paris time). All sessions are recorded and available for replay.
- Seminars: 2 weekends from 2-9pm (October 11–12 & January 17–18)
- Weekly lessons & exercises: 2 lessons and 2 exercises each week via Google Drive/Classroom + Feedback from tutors
- Weekly live workshops: 2-hour sessions on Zoom with replays
- 2 Supervision of 30 minutes with a tutor (or more if you choose a coaching plan)
- Group discussions on Telegram
- Zoom for live sessions
- Google Drive/Classroom for materials and assignments
- Telegram for group discussions
No travel is needed — the program is 100% online and open internationally. You only need a computer, a stable internet connection, and access to Zoom, Google Drive/Classroom, and Telegram.
Ideal for coaches, HR professionals, managers, therapists, teachers, thinkers, writers, artists, anyone interested in developing philosophical practice and critical thinking, or considering a professional transition. So overall, open to anyone interest for personal or professional reasons.
If you wish to join Level 2 directly without completing Level 1, please write to Leila Millon, the program director. It is possible to try a competency test to see if you can start at Level 2 directly.
Yes! You can find student testimonials on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/ipp_int?igsh=MXRuZGVuc3Y5cTdwOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Yes, this is possible! Once certified by IPP, some students are invited to collaborate or join our team of tutors — usually starting in Level 3. This can be discussed directly with the director.
This program is taught by the IPP team—Isabelle Millon, Leila Millon, and with interventions from Oscar Brenifier—as well as several philosophical practitioners trained by the Institute of Philosophical Practices and now collaborating with it. Typically, 10 to 12 tutors work together on each course.
Please contact Leila Millon via the website’s contact form or by email at institutdepra.philo@gmail.com
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
1
Submit the form
2
Contact us
Send us an email at institutdepra.philo@gmail.com
or a message on WhatsApp/Telegram to the mentor of the program Leila
+33 7 68 42 82 08 (WhatsApp)
or a message on WhatsApp/Telegram to the mentor of the program Leila
+33 7 68 42 82 08 (WhatsApp)
3
Pay for the course
You can pay:
1. By Credit Card
2. By bank transfer
3. By Paypal
(Write to us to receive the credit card link, the bank information or a paypal request)
1. By Credit Card
2. By bank transfer
3. By Paypal
(Write to us to receive the credit card link, the bank information or a paypal request)
4
Join our Telegram chat
Link to come 2 weeks before the beginning of the program
Link to come 2 weeks before the beginning of the program
| | Sign up Leave your mobile phone number or contact us +33 7 68 42 82 08 (WhatsApp) or write to us institutdepra.philo@gmail.com |
