"Where we are tempted to speak of 'different senses' of a word which is clearly not equivocal, we may infer that we are in fact pretty much in the dark about the character of the concept which it represents."

— G.E.M Anscombe, Intention

Does philosophical counseling involve writing?

It can, but it usually does not.

Writing is an excellent tool for thinking, and so can be enormously useful for working through certain kinds of problems. When it seems that incorporating some writing would be useful, this is easily arranged on a client by client basis.

The primary mode of communication in philosophical counseling is in-person conversation because this way of talking offers certain possibilities that writing lacks: If one is having a conversation, it is easier to follow-up on an example or press for a more critical formulation of a reason than it would be if the mode of communication were written.

It is also possible to engage in philosophical exploration of a personal issue entirely through writing, for example, through email correspondence, letters, and even conversing through instant messaging. Though these conversations are written they are fundamentally conversations rather than, say, journal entries or essays.