Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTechniques of LogotherapyUsesBenefitsEffectiveness of LogotherapyThings to ConsiderHow to Get Started
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Techniques of Logotherapy
Uses
Benefits
Effectiveness of Logotherapy
Things to Consider
How to Get Started
Close
Logotherapy is a therapeutic approach that helps people find personal meaning in life. It’s a form ofpsychotherapythat is focused on the future and on our ability to endure hardship and suffering through a search for purpose.
Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Viktor Frankl developed logotherapy prior to his deportation to a concentration camp at age 37. His experience and theories are detailed in his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.”
Viktor Frankl, MD, PhDEverything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
Viktor Frankl, MD, PhD
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
This opinion was based on his experiences in the concentration camps and his intent to find meaning through his suffering. In this way, Frankl believed that when we can no longer change a situation, we are forced to change ourselves.
A Mental Exercise to Help You Find Meaning in Your Life
1:13Click Play to Learn More About Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy
1:13
Click Play to Learn More About Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy
Frankl believed that it was possible to turn suffering into achievement and accomplishment. He viewed guilt as an opportunity to change oneself for the better and life transitions as the chance to take responsible action.
In this way, logotherapy is aimed at helping you to make better use of your “spiritual” resources to withstand adversity, rather than counting on material advantages or relying on other people. Three techniques intended to help with this process include dereflection, paradoxical intention, and Socratic dialogue.
Dereflection
Dereflection is aimed at helping you focus away from yourself and toward other people, allowing you to become “whole” and to spend less time feeling preoccupied with a problem or worry.
This technique is meant to combat “hyper-reflection,” or extreme focus on an anxiety-provoking situation or object. Hyper-reflection is often common in people withanticipatory anxiety.
Paradoxical Intention
Paradoxical intention is a technique that invites you to wish for the thing that you fear most. This was originally suggested for use in the case ofanxietyorphobias, in which humor and ridicule can be used when fear is paralyzing.
For example, if you have a fear of looking foolish, you might be encouraged to try to look foolish on purpose. Paradoxically, your fear would be removed when you set an intention to behave as foolishly as possible and realized that the extremely negative reaction you were expecting never happened.
Socratic Dialogue
It’s easy to see how some of the techniques of logotherapy overlap with newer forms of treatment such ascognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)oracceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In this way, logotherapy may be a complementary approach for these behavior and thought-based treatments.
What Logotherapy Can Help With
Perhaps not surprisingly, there is evidence that meaning in life correlates with better mental health. This knowledge might be applied in areas such as:
By connecting with meaning in their lives, people can stop feeling as though they are suffering pointlessly as victims.
Benefits of Logotherapy
Logotherapy may improveresilience—the ability to withstand adversity, stress, and hardship. This may be due to the skills that this form of therapy encourages people to develop, like:
Having a meaning or purpose in life (or engaging in a search for meaning) appears to be connected to your overall health, happiness, and life satisfaction. It also acts as a positive influence on your resilience. Research supports this connection and shows that some people with mental or physical health conditions may struggle to feel like their lives have meaning.
Logotherapy appears to improve people’s sense of meaning and is effective at:
While logotherapy isn’t inherently religious, it is focused on spiritual and philosophical concepts, and it is concerned with helping people who feel lost or dissatisfied on a spiritual level. While many find comfort in this approach, it may pose problems if you’re not a spiritual or philosophical person.
Similarly, logotherapy is focused on helping people uncover purpose or meaning. If you already feel that you understand the meaning of your life or your problems aren’t existential in nature, this form of treatment may not be a good fit for you.
Logotherapy is also not intended to be the sole treatment for some conditions. While logotherapy may offer benefits for someone living with schizophrenia, for example, treatment for their condition may also include medication and additional forms of psychotherapy.
Logotherapy may be offered as a primary therapeutic approach, or its principles might be combined with another form of therapy or treatment option. Logotherapy can be offered in person or online, and can be administeredindividuallyor asgroup therapy. Your doctor may be able to recommend local treatment options.
During your sessions, your therapist will educate you on core principles of logotherapy, like:
You’ll be expected to act as an active participant in the therapy process (rather than a passive recipient), and you’ll be encouraged to take responsibility in your own search for meaning and purpose in life.
If you’re interested in logotherapy but aren’t sure you want to pursue formal treatment, you can also learn to apply some of the core concepts to your everyday life. Try:
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3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Frankl VE.Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston, 2006.Thir M, Batthyány A.The state of empirical research on logotherapy and existential analysis. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:53-74. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_7Southwick SM, Lowthert BT, Graber AV.Relevance and application of logotherapy to enhance resilience to stress and trauma. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:131-149. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_13
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Frankl VE.Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston, 2006.Thir M, Batthyány A.The state of empirical research on logotherapy and existential analysis. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:53-74. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_7Southwick SM, Lowthert BT, Graber AV.Relevance and application of logotherapy to enhance resilience to stress and trauma. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:131-149. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_13
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Frankl VE.Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston, 2006.Thir M, Batthyány A.The state of empirical research on logotherapy and existential analysis. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:53-74. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_7Southwick SM, Lowthert BT, Graber AV.Relevance and application of logotherapy to enhance resilience to stress and trauma. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:131-149. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_13
Frankl VE.Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston, 2006.
Thir M, Batthyány A.The state of empirical research on logotherapy and existential analysis. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:53-74. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_7
Southwick SM, Lowthert BT, Graber AV.Relevance and application of logotherapy to enhance resilience to stress and trauma. In: Batthyány A, ed.Logotherapy and Existential Analysis. New York City; 2016:131-149. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29424-7_13
Hannah Owens, LMSW
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