Some questions – think of a client

• Why do you believe about life and how does

this guide you in working with this client?

• What is the most important outcome you are

looking for with this client?

• Do you have a preferred modality or

approach?

Frankl

• Philosophy

• Purpose

• Practice

“There is no

psychotherapy

without a theory

of the human

being and a

philosophy of life

underlying it”

Frankl

BASIC CONCEPTS OF

FRANKLIAN THERAPY

•A Philosophy

•A Personality Theory

(Franklian Psychology)

•A Theory of Psychotherapy

Human DimensionsProjecting a phenomenon from a higher dimension to a lower can produce contradictory

images

Dimensional OntologyProjecting different phenomena from a higher dimension to a lower can produce ambiguous images

Neuroses in

Logotherapy

• Somatogenic – originating in the body –

manifesting in the psyche

• Psychogenic – originating in the psyche with

sypmtoms manifesting in either soma (body)

or psyche

• Noogenic – Originating in the human spirit.

Reductionism

Basic Tenets of

Franklian Psychology – The

Three Pillars

• Life has meaning under all

circumstances.

• Main motivation for living is

our will to find meaning in

life.

• Freedom to find meaning

Jukka on Trauma

• “if a condition is

somatogenic and pheno-

psychological, a two-

pronged approach for

treatment is needed:

the somatogenic issue

needs to be dealt with

and the person behind

the symptoms, the

noetic in man, needs to

be nourished.”

Logotherapy

~ The Third School of

Viennese

Psychology

~ Freud (Psychoanalysis)

~ Adler (Will to power)

Individual Psychology

~ Frankl (Will to meaning)

– Existential Analysis

Aims of Franklian Psychotherapy

• Become aware of the resources of the human

spirit

• Use the “defiant power of the human spirit”

to face adversity

• “Existential analysis is psychotherapy whose

starting point is consciousness of

responsibility” Frankl “The Doctor and the Soul”

Concepts

• Phenomenon of the “Existential Vacuum”:

Noögenic Neurosis = neurosis of the spirit noös = spirit; noögenic = of the spirit)

1. There is no meaning in life (nihilism)

Concepts

• Phenomenon of the “Existential Vacuum”:

Noögenic Neurosis = neurosis of the spirit noös = spirit; noögenic = of the spirit)

1. There is no meaning in life (nihilism)

2. The human being is explained by …. “behaviours”, “brain science” etc. (reductionism)

3. There is nothing I can do – I am like this because … (pandeterminism)

“When one is confronted with

an inescapable, unavoidable situation,

whenever one has to face a fate that

cannot be changed, e.g. an incurable

disease, just then is one given a last

chance to actualize the highest value,

to fulfill the deepest meaning, the true

Meaning of suffering.”

The potential meaning of unavoidable

suffering

Frankl

The Tragic Triad

Selecting the Method

• Method of choice: = x + y

x = the unique personality of the client

y = the equally unique

personality of the therapist

• modify the method from person to

person, and from situation to situation.

An Adjunct Therapy

CBT

• Socratic dialogue –

examine ideas /

determine validity

• Looks inward to

condition the psyche

• Control emotions in

unavoidable situations

Logotherapy

• Socratic dialogue –

meaning of life itself

• Looks outward –

towards causes/

people / meanings.

• Find meaning in

suffering

An Adjunct Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

• Amplify discrepancies

between values and

behaviours

• Identify triggers for

comorbid conditions

Logotherapy

• Assist with a broader

perspective on life itself,

not a single issue

• Focus on the human

condition not the

symptom

An Adjunct Therapy

Narrative Therapy

• A person is a collection of

stories that shape

identity

• Listen to the values

behind the story

• Establish meaningful

goals for the future

Logotherapy

• Your destiny is where

you are now– Natural disposition (fate – the

cards we are dealt)

– Situation (all the external

environs around us)

• Decision – what you do

with destiny – taking

responsibility

Values and Conscience

• Values are personal responses to life

• Values can be in conflict with each other

• Conscience makes Meaning of values by way of

choices

• Meanings are unique to each person

• Homeostasis – equilibrium is not possible, there

will always be noodynamic tensions between

meaning to fulfil and the person to fulfil it

Personal Freedom

POSSIBILITIES TO CHOOSE

SITUATIONINDIVIDUAL

AREA OF FATEAREA OF

PERSONAL FREEDOM

NO POSSIBILITIES OF CHOICE EXIST HERE

Elisabeth Lukas, PhD

Frankl on Choice

Techniques

• Self distancing

• Paradoxical intention

– (using the resources of self-distancing)

• Socratic Dialogue

•Dereflection

– (using the resources of self-

transcendence)

•Modification of attitudes

Search for new meanings

Last Words

Thank you

• Further Information

• Contact

• paul@lifechange.net.au

• Enrol to study

logotherapy at

• www.lifechange.net.au

• Some Resources

mailto:paul@lifechange.net.au