WHAT IS LOGOTHERAPY?

Logotherapy is a meaning-orientated psychotherapy, founded by Dr. Viktor Frankl. It has often been referred to as the third Viennese school of psychotherapy; preceded by Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalysis (will to pleasure), and Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology (will to power). Logotherapy’s basic idea is that meaning fulfilment in life is the best protection against emotional instability and the best guarantee for psychological health; the primary motivational force of an individual is to find meaning in life (will to meaning).

Three philosophical and psychological concepts make up Frankl’s Logotherapy:

1- Freedom of Will: We have the freedom to choose and are not slaves to determinism.

2- Will to Meaning: We have an innate will to find meaning in our lives.

3- Meaning of Life: Life has meaning in all circumstances, even in suffering and death; meaning can also be found retroactively.

These three assumptions counter the reductionism, pan-determinism and the nihilism of our times. The human is a free, conscious undetermined being.

In therapy, the patient wants to reach a state of health, but there is an obstacle (depression, fear, psychosomatic illness and others). Traditional psychotherapy focuses on the obstacle, tries to understand its causes, and reduce it to size. Logotherapy focuses on a meaningful goal (logos) beyond the obstacle and motivates the patient to jump over it in pursuit of meaningful goals.

The Logotherapist is a change agent, someone who helps a seeker interrogate one’s self, one’s conscience and spirit to discover personally relevant answers and meanings derived from one’s context; to help individuals live more meaningful and productive lives in harmony with their families and their community.

Frankl’s Tri-Dimensional Ontology:

Frankl’s tri-dimensional ontology is at the heart of his philosophical anthropology. According to Frankl, the human is characterised by three:

The Somatic Plane - The biological and physical of the human existence.

The Psychic Plane - The emotional, intellectual, intangible plane of the human existence.

The Noetic Dimension - The uniquely human dimension comprising of things such as the conscience, intuition, inspiration etc.

This last dimension is the spirit - an oft-forgotten aspect of the human existence in other schools of psychotherapy. This holistic view of the human existence allows the Logotherapist to provide a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, considering the biological, psychological and spiritual realms.

- COLLINS ISLAMIC COUNSELLING