Online logotherapy

We welcome you on board to a journey of self-realization and progressive self-development.

Logotherapy focuses on searching for one's unique meaning in life. It teaches us that it is not we who ask the questions of life: Why me? Why this? Why now?
Rather, LIFE asks us questions, and it is our responsibility to answer them. We are here to utilize and become the best versions of ourselves.
Sofia Adeem is an accredited member of the International Association of Logotherapy and Existentialistic Analysis with a Diploma in Logotherapy and major in Psychological Counselling.

I look forward to being of service to you on Logotherapy Online.
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Introduction to Logotherapy and Background

The findings of Dr Victor Frankl MD, PhD, the founder of Logotherapy, are based on comprehensive experiences beyond usual lap setups, theory reflecting a specific time period, and small control groups. Dr Frankl himself, is a survivor of three concentration camps. His significant findings are supported by logo therapists worldwide both then and today and seem forever relevant when therapy is needed to help people restore mental health. The belief is that the desire and will to find meaning is humans' most essential, powerful driving force. Life can, therefore, have meaning even in the most miserable circumstances. The greatest motivation for living comes from finding that meaning.

Logotherapy is the first truly holistic and complete system in the history of psychotherapy, called the third force falling under humanistic and existentialistic therapies, that also provides an opportunity to integrate other methods aligned with its core (Marshall & Marshall:23), including spirituality and religion. This makes it both unique, practicable, and timeless, unlike many therapy traditions, which can be rigid and one-eyed.

Logotherapy is more than therapy. It is logo/ "meaning" philosophy - a view about ourselves and our place in life that will help us make sense of it despite tragedies and tumult. (Fabry:16)

Logo philosophy is based on much of the wisdom of the ages, common sense, and the findings of modern psychology in a systematic and methodologically refined way so we can apply them to our lives. It has contributed to the advancement of psychotherapy, which focuses mostly on the past, the primitive drives and destructive powers within us. Logotherapy focuses less on the past or only as much as is required, and more on the future - what to do about your situation, actively and progressively.

For the overview, the characteristics of Logotherapy are:

It is a therapeutic approach that helps people find personal meaning and purpose in life.
Logotherapy’s concept of humankind is based on three pillars: The freedom of will, the will to meaning, and the meaning of life.
It helps individuals find the answers to their questions by reconnecting with their Self through their Conscience and by facing and accepting universal truths.
It strengthens our assurance that we have choices, are unique, and have the power to defy limitations by overcoming them or changing our attitudes where they cannot be overcome.
Your mindset determines your experience of reality, which is why you must ensure it is healthy and constructive. Logotherapy teaches you to utilise your inner medicine chest and restore your balance by adopting the right perspective in the given situation.
It reinforces our inclination toward self-realisation (self-transcendence), which is believed to nurture and strengthen our Spirit towards selfless, outstanding, and unmatchable human achievements. (Fabry.1994. P.16-17,170)
This orientation believes in the good in people. We can always change for the better. A constructive approach and a positive mindset are crucial foundations that the therapist will encourage and support.
The human Spirit is considered superior to any emotional challenge or disease. Thus, the spiritual person can be distressed and disturbed but not destroyed. (These two principles are known as Frankl’s psychological creed.)
Logo philosophy believes that life is all about facing whatever comes your way in the best possible way. We can grow from distressed situations instead of being defeated by them and discover potential.
Logo therapists help you utilise your inner resources to heal yourself by finding meaning, value, purpose, worthwhile activities, and goals in life.
Logo-education teaches us to become independent (even from the therapist) and to take responsibility for our decisions.

Logo therapists are of the belief that we are not merely driven by primitive instincts or psychologically driven behaviour patterns. We are far more than that. (Lukas:23-24) There is the body, the mind and the Spirit, and the Spirit can overpower the other two to a great extent if you will it.

Our primary concern is not to satisfy drives, reduce stress and gratify pleasures, as older theories assumed. The part of us that we call the Spirit or the Soul is motivated by our will to meaning, which makes us reach out for activities and experiences that are meaningful to us. We have the ability to disregard drives or forego pleasures, though they are great influencers. Simultaneously, we also possess the ability to make sacrifices of all kinds IF we set a self-chosen goal which we are determined to reach, devote ourselves to a task, make a cause our own, or lovingly reach out to another person. Even while suffering deprivations, we can be at peace if we see meaning behind what we have given up and sacrificed. On the other hand, if we satisfy all our drives and reach a point where nothing more is demanded of us, we will become existentially frustrated and depressed. (Lukas:22-23) The need to satisfy our spiritual dimension is what differentiates and advances us from animals. Animals are pleased with satisfying their primitive basic needs. We humans have a higher purpose, responsibility, and Conscience to hunt us when we do not live according to universal values and are not true to our inner call. Because we are meaning-seekers, our systems will seek to utilise and actualise ourselves until we do justice to our potential. As Frankl also states: “As long as a human being breathes, as long as they are conscious, he carries responsibility for answering life’s questions.” (Marshall & Marshall:93)

“We cannot choose our emotions any more than animals, but we can take a stand; we can control the reaction we make to our emotions by our will.” (Lukas:78) Thus, the environment does not make a person even though it will influence us. Everything ultimately depends on what the person makes of it, on one’s attitude toward it. Life can be hard on us, but it is never made unbearable by circumstances - only by lack of meaning and purpose. Thus, “Man’s freedom is not freedom from conditions but rather freedom to take a stand on whatever conditions might confront him,” as Frankl states. (Frankl.The Will to Meaning.P.16)

In this area of free will, human beings can become superior to their circumstances if they learn to utilise their inner strength. This worldview is essentially constructive and an expression of faith in a Divine Force, even though people from different cultures or belief systems address the force differently.

Guilt is viewed as an opportunity to change oneself for the better.

Life transitions are viewed as the chance to take responsible action aligned with your purpose.

In this way, Logotherapy is aimed at helping you to make better use of your “spiritual” resources to withstand adversity. Our inner resources need to be found, acknowledged, nurtured and put into practice.

The client decides in which direction he or she wants to go. For example, do you want to focus on psychological techniques to restore your inner balance? Or do you want to understand the big picture by applying the religious angle to your issues and receive guidance about specific practices that need to be “updated” and implemented?

Techniques

Different techniques are used during therapy depending on the client’s specific needs. Some common methods of Logotherapy are listed below.
Finding and defining creative, experiential, and attitudinal values are believed to enhance the quality of life.

De-reflection occurs when a person hyper-reflects on a problem to an extent which is out of proportion and unhealthy. The client needs to combat focus on an anxiety-provoking situation or object by being de-reflected from the disturbance and reoriented.

Paradoxical intention is a technique that invites you to wish for the thing you fear most. It is used in cases of anxiety or phobias, in which humour is applied when fear is out of proportion and paralysing.

Socratic dialogue is a tool used to help the client through the process of self-discovery by noticing and interpreting your own words. During the dialogue, your therapist listens closely to how you describe things and points out your word patterns, helping you see their underlying meaning. This process is believed to help you realise your own answers as they are often already present within you and just waiting to be discovered.

Modification of Attitudes

Understanding underlying causes and venting frustrations can be an important step towards healing and often how the process of therapy starts. However, endlessly mulling over the negative aspects or drowning in self-pity does not break the cycle. The cure is self-commitment and a renewed faith in oneself that ‘I control it.’ Did you know that the difference between neurotics and healthy beings is that neurotics misunderstand their existence as “this is the way I have to be.” Healthy persons have the attitude of “I can always change.”

Sometimes, we need not dig up childhood traumas or focus on an unhappy past. Once we know why we react as we do, we must take charge of the direction in which we are going. By modifying our attitude head-on and viewing what is happening from a different angle, we can rearrange the furniture in our mind, after which the world will look very different. A common example of “change in attitude” can be: “I am not losing a daughter; I am gaining a son-in-law.” (Fabry.2021:42) We have the power to choose to look at things positively and healthily.

What Logotherapy Can Help With

It is believed that the right perspective and attitude can set you free. However, when we are indulged in a crisis, we can have a hard time seeing things as they truly are. We might have adopted a negative, pessimistic angle or might just be confused about things. One thing is sure: when things are not working out for us, we need to do something differently and “see beyond”. Sometimes, all we need is another perspective – one that is constructive and makes sense in the bigger picture. Other times, we need a concrete set of toolboxes to fix the engine, one part at a time.

Regardless of the issue or crises, when life seems like a dark jungle in which we have lost our way and are on our own, we can benefit from human interaction in the form of a guide and some enlightenment to find a way out. The logo therapist will try to candlelight for you during the journey, help you see possibilities by adopting a bird’s perspective whenever you are stuck in a blind alley, and together reach clarity about where you ultimately want to reach.

Logotherapy can be useful for most types of challenges, blocks and disorders that hinder mental health. Examples are: Depression, Grief, Guilt, Pain, Restlessness, Phobias, Schizophrenia, Substance abuse, Anxiety, Panic attacks, Suicidal ideation, Behavioural problems such as excessive aggression, and many more.

It is never about what you have done but all about your willingness to change. Neither is the most essential what has happened to you, as much as what you can learn from it.

Logo therapists focus on the dynamic core of the person as someone who can change for the better at any time IF only one sincerely intends to find and see the importance and meaning in it. Change can happen because the will to live in accordance with universal values and Conscience is inherent and fundamental to human existence. (Marshall & Marshall:525)

“The logo therapist’s role consists of widening and broadening the visual field of the patient so that the whole spectrum of potential meaning becomes conscious and visible to him.” (Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, p. 89)

“Man ultimately decides for himself! And, in the end, education must be education toward the ability to decide.” (Frankl, 2019, p. xix) Thus, the client will be challenged to develop critical thinking and educate themselves so they can be skilled in overcoming the problems they are facing.

Benefits of Logotherapy:

As Frankl says: “Suffering can be made into a triumph IF you can find meaning in it, and it changes you for the better.” (Frankl.The will to meaning.P.79)

Logotherapy can improve your ability to withstand adversity, stress and hardship, followed by resilience. It will equip you to better tackle life challenges, whatever they might be, due to the emotional skills that this form of therapy encourages people to develop, like:

Emotional intelligence.
Learning the power of acceptance and tawakkul.
Training yourself to adopt optimism and surrender to the Will of the Almighty, even in the face of tragedy.
Recognising and learning to utilise the power of your Spirit.
Increased mental strength to overcome whatever comes your way.
Recognising and distinguishing between constructive and destructive influencing forces, hereunder feelings and thoughts.
Learning to realign with your inner Self and use the voice of your Conscience as a guardian angel and compass.
Altruism - A selfless approach to others that nurtures your Spirit immensely.
A conscious and active approach to life (rather than a passive one).
Learning to reconsider the meaning of an event by adopting a constructive perspective.

Courage to face one’s fears in order to overcome them.
Learning coping techniques that work for you.
Understanding that life is all about making responsible choices.
A focused, values-based lifestyle in which you are the architect.

Effectiveness

Finding meaning and purpose fuels the Spirit like no other medium. Once your Spirit is high, your motivation, willpower, energy, resilience, optimism and hope can reach their peak. However, note that the effect of the sessions depends on how badly you want positive change. As a client, you alone decide whether you will improve upon your weaknesses and negative tendencies, act upon the findings of the therapy and adopt them in practical life or just let it pass over your head and repeat the old habitual cycle. Ultimately, it is up to you how much you decide to explore and utilise your inner medicine chest and potential and live by your standards. The logo therapist is there to help you find them and support you during the process.

Because Logotherapy appears to improve people’s sense of meaning and connect to the core, it is effective at:

References

Fabry, J. (1994). The Pursuit of Meaning: Viktor Frankl, Logotherapy, and Life. Texas, USA: Institute of Logotherapy Press.
Fabry, J. (2021). Guideposts to Meaning: Discovering What Really Matters. Charlottesville, VA: Purpose Research.
Frankl, V. E. (2014). Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Frankl, V. (2014). The Will to Meaning: Foundations and Applications of Logotherapy. New York, NY: Penguin Books.
Frankl, V. E. (2019). The Doctor and the Soul: From Psychotherapy to Logotherapy. New York, NY: Vintage Books.
Frankl, V. (2000). Man’s Search for Ultimate Meaning. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Lukas, E. S. (2020). Meaningful Living: Introduction to Logotherapy: Theory and Practice (J. B. Fabry, Trans.). USA: Purpose Research.
Marshall, M., & Marshall, E. (2022). Viktor E. Frankl’s Logotherapy and Existential Analysis: Theory and Practice. Ontario, Canada: Ottawa Institute of Logotherapy.