Philosophy has been considered good for the soul at least since Socrates brought it to the Athenian marketplace, and history abounds with examples of the therapeutic applications of philosophical thinking.
However, the first professional association for the practice of philosophical therapy was founded in 1982 in Germany, by philosopher Gerd B. Achenbach. This led to the establishment of the practice in many European countries.
Since then, professional associations have been established worldwide, including the National Philosophical Counseling Association and the American Philosophical Practitioners Association in the United States and the Canadian Society for Philosophical Practice.