Levinas in Practice: Face to Face and Side by Side
Abstract
In a Levinasian philosophical counseling practice, the work of the counselor or therapist is two-fold, both face-to-face in proximity with the other and side-by-side, engaged together with the other in the work of dialogue. These roles, or phases, are interdependent; each in turn gives rise to and interrupts the other. The counselor or therapist bears responsibility for maintaining the relationship face-to-face, while the guest leads the work side-by-side