Profile of logotherapy

Logotherapy was founded by Viennese psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. He was a survivor of holocaust and concentration camps during World War II. He derives his therapy and philosophy from this hard experiences.

Logotherapy has a lot to offer to mental health professionals because it actively aims that individuals search for meaning in their lives. It has been shown that meaning in life contributes to wellness, stable mood, less psychological distress, proactive and social behavior.

Logotherapy involves the growth of spirituality. It emphasizes the importance of meaning, faith, hope, humor as a part of positive psychology. It has been used to treat a great array of problems such as alcoholism, psychoses, despair related with incurable diseases, rehabilitation, developmental disorders, family therapy and relationship counseling.

Theoretical Tenets

Human life has a meaning, where each person needs to experience their own sense of personal life.

Humans have the potential to overcome and experience life under all circumstances and situations.

Each individual has opportunities to respond, through experience, action or attitudes
Most of the time individuals agreed with what peer groups, marketing companies or cultural ideals might find important, lacking the sense of the meaning of life, leaving emptiness or existential vacuum which is often manifested as depression, anxiety, aggression or addictions.

Logotherapy motivate people to respond, to reach awareness of their personal life meaning so they can feel more full and satisfied. Also, It can be used with friends and family of people who are struggling with difficult situations.

Each individual as internal resources (strengths and skills) that can be applied to any situation. Therapists help patients to develop awareness and to identify an access these internal resources.

It helps people to accept their diagnoses, aids in adhering to their treatment. It is a collaborative therapy that maximizes the chances of a positive outcome and helps minimizing the despair associated with negative situations.

Practical tenets

Therapist emphasizes the uniqueness of human beings, they teach to exercise their freedom to respond to their situations or problems. It encourages patients to take responsibility to respond to that freedom through behaviors experiences or attitudes. They empower individuals to be aware of their capability as human beings in spite of their current situation or limitations.

Logotherapy is “horizontal therapy”, it aims to build an equal relationship between therapist and patients, offering opportunities of change, rather than “fixing” patients problems. The therapist helps clients to clarify and work towards actions, experiences and attitudes to reach a life meaning. He insists that choices are always available, even if they are limited.

Phases of logotherapy.

• Differentiation of clients from their symptoms. It is important not to over-pathologize individuals. A person is more than their symptoms, they remain always as human being with abilities and skills to overcome difficult situations.
• Modification of attitudes toward illness/symptoms. Attitudes and perceptions produce and shift from the over-focus on symptoms and aims the awareness in options and options for change. It helps to identify what is meaningful and functional to clients.
• Symptom reduction, which is a consequence of the attitude change from step 2. Here are incorporated some specific techniques such as coping skills, relaxation techniques aimed to make symptoms more manageable.
• Maintenance of wellness and mental health. Provides future orientation and facilitation of continued awareness of personal life meaning, developing and clarifying life purposes.

Therapeutic Techniques.

Attitude modification.(using Socratic dialogue for questioning irrational or pessimistic beliefs, the truth of things and to debate irrational ideas ,it foster recognition of positive choices)

Paradoxical intention. It incorporates humor to counteract anxiety. It allows a more objective distance toward the problem behaviors, facilitating attitude and behavior change.

Dereflection. Its about to refocus the attention from the problem or symptom to thighly motivating area of personal growth or opportunities for change. Its objective is to reduce anticipatory anxiety(anxiety about having anxiety).

Sources
Ameli, M., & Dattilio, F. M. (2013). Enhancing cognitive behavior therapy with logotherapy: Techniques for clinical practice.Psychotherapy, 50(3), 387-391
Julom, A. M., & de Guzmán, R. (2013). The Effectiveness of Logotherapy Program in Alleviating the Sense of Meaninglessness of Paralyzed In-patients. International Journal Of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 13(3), 357-371.
Asagba, R. B. (2013). THE IMPORTANCE OF LOGOTHERAPY IN AFRICAN CULTURE. IFE Psychologia, 21(3-S), 254-259.