How does logotherapy differ from psychoanalysis

CBT focuses on putting insight into action, so by creating insight and changing thoughts the client should be able to understand and modify their behaviors and emotions. Psychoanalytic psychologists believe that typical causes of mental disorders root from unresolved conflicts and trauma. Psychoanalytic treatment is based on the idea that people are motivated by unrecognized wishes and desires. Treatment involves bringing the repressed conflict to consciousness so that the patient can learn to deal with it.

There are many different ways in which the psychologist can bring the patient's conflict to consciousness including, rorschach ink blots, Freudian slip, and free. Postmodern counseling approaches have begun to challenge the paradigms of modernistic counseling theories. Modern theories emphasize the use of empirically validated treatment approaches to psychotherapy.

The modernistic therapy perspective endorses the premise that psychological problems are the result of disturbances in cognitive processes. Plato discusses the issue of one vs. This idea of one vs many was influenced by Socrates. This states that the one forms is priority over the many which is the particulars or examples.

Plato discusses how we are born with knowledge of these forms. This innate knowledge is in our soul, as we do philosophy we relocate the. As quoted by Ernst G. Beier: In order for neurotic patients to recover from pain and discover a life of purpose, I believe that they must regain their continuity with their earliest experiences. Early im On the other hand, the humanistic approach, introduced by Abraham Maslow, states that individuals have the freedom and capacity to direct his or her own future.

Although it is a theory, it is apparant that the psychoanalytic approach is accepted in our society through observations of our speech and procedures of our criminal justice system. I think when you choose what type of therapy you want to practice you have to consider which one fits your personality and how you interact with other people. I would pick this type of therapy because I like that it acknowledges that the past can influence how a person may react presently toward a situation.

For example, if a partner cheated on you in the past, in future relationships you may be much less trusting and cause rifts in those relationships. While reading Abbott and Snyder and Doherty n. Abbott and Snyder states that an integrative approach to therapy is key whereas Doherty n. Abbott and Snyder state that integrating multiple therapies into a couples therapy session is going to be more beneficial than if just one was used.

For example, if one partner has depression then the therapist would incorporate cognitive therapy. Home Page Logotherapy versus Traditional Psychoanalysis. Logotherapy versus Traditional Psychoanalysis Good Essays. Open Document. Essay Sample Check Writing Quality. What does the term logotherapy mean? Break the word down and describe. To begin to understand logotherapy, one must look at the origin of the word. As the term suggests, logotherapy focuses on finding the meaning of human existence, as well as man's search for meaning as a means to rehabilitate an individual.

He cautions against addressing ultimate meanings in therapy, unless the client is openly religious Frankl, Each individual must discover the specific meanings of the moment. Only the individual knows the right meaning specific to the moment. The therapist can also facilitate the quest and guide the client to those areas in which meanings can be found Fabry, ; Frankl, , In his earlier writings Frankl, , , Dr. Frank often used meaning and value interchangeable.

Fabry has clarified the difference between meaning and value:. We create unique relationships and accept unique tasks, face unique sufferings, experience unique guilt feelings and die a unique death.

The search for meaning is highly personal and distinct. But millions of people have gone through situations that were similar enough so they could react in a similar way. They found what was meaningful in standard situations. Therefore, values are abstract meanings based on the meaning experiences of many, many individuals.

Frankl , believes that these values can guide our search for meaning and simplify decision-making. For example, life can be made meaningful if we realize three categories of values -- experiential, creative and attitudinal. Traditional values are the examples of the accumulation of meaning experiences of many individuals over a long period of time. However, these values are threatened by modernization.

Thus, every experience of meaning involves the realization of some values. But these values may lie latent and need to be awakened or cultivated through existential analysis.

The logotherapeutic credo consists of freedom of will; will to meaning and the meaning of life Frankl , These are cornerstones of logotherapy and existential analysis. Man is not free from conditions. But he is free to take a stand in regard to them.

Although our existence is influenced by instincts, inherited disposition and environment, an area of freedom is always available to us. Therefore, we always have the freedom to take a stand towards the restrictive conditions and transcend our fate. With freedom comes responsibility. Frankl , points out that we are responsible not only to something but also to Someone, not only to the task, but also to the Taskmaster.

Frankl differentiates between responsibility and responsibleness. The former comes from possessing the freedom of will. The later refers to exercising our freedom to make the right decisions in meeting the demands of each situation. Self-transcendence often makes use of the power of imagination and optimism. Self-transcendence is essential for finding happiness, which is not the end, but the by-product of trying to forget oneself.

The therapist can only challenge and guide the patient to potential areas of meaning: creative, experiential, and attitudinal values. Attitudinal values are especially important in situations of unavoidable suffering. Existential frustration is a universal human experience, because the will to meaning can be blocked by external circumstances and internal hindrances. Existential frustration leads to noogenic neurosis or existential vacuum. Therefore, logotherapy is uniquely appropriate in dealing with existential neuroses.

Existential vacuum refers to general sense of meaninglessness or emptiness, as evidenced by a state of boredom. It is a widespread phenomenon of the twentieth century, as a result of industrialization, the loss of traditional values and dehumanization of individuals. People may experience existential vacuum without developing existential neurosis.

Many feel that life has no purpose, no challenge, no obligation and they try to fill their existential vacuum with materials things, pleasure, sex, or power, busy work, but they are misguided Frankl, Suffering is not a necessary condition for meaning, but it tends to trigger the quest for meaning. Frankl , , has observed that people are willing to endure any suffering, if they are convinced that this suffering has meaning. However, suffering without meaning leads to despair.

Logotherapists do not ask for the reason for suffering, but guide their clients towards the realization of concrete meanings, and choose the right attitudes. Often, logotherapists appeal to their clients to stake a heroic stands towards suffering, by suggesting that unavoidable suffering gives them the opportunity to bear witness to the human potential and dignity. Search for meaning is more likely to be occasioned by three negative facets of human existence: pain, guilt and death.

Pain refers to human suffering, guilt to the awareness of our fallibility and death to our awareness of the transtoriness of life Frankl, , These negative experiences make us more aware of our needs for meaning and spiritual aspiration. Neuroses are more likely to originate from our attempt to obscure the reality of pain, guilt and death as existential facts Frankl, , Logotherapy provides an answer to the tragic triad through attitudinal values and tragic optimism:.

Noogenic neurosis is regarded as the collective neurosis of contemporary Western society Frankl, , Guttmann, The goal of logotherapy is to enable patients to discover their unique meanings and consider their own areas of freedom. In cases of psychogenic or individual neurosis, which may be treated by traditional psychotherapy or medication, logotherapy serves as a supplement and helps break the vicious circles of neurosis.

According to Lukas the four main logotherapeutic techniques are: paradoxical intention, de-reflection, modification of attitudes and appealing techniques.

This technique builds upon the human capacity for self-detachment to break the vicious cycle, which traps people in psychogenic neuroses, such as phobia, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive behaviour.

Self-attachment enables to patient to adopt a new attitude, to stand back or laugh at the situation or self. As a result, the patient no longer avoids situations that create anxiety.

With phobic patient, paradoxical intention typically begins with self-detachment often after invitation and persuasion. The second step is to ask the patient to develop a new attitude of not fearing but welcoming the symptoms.

This typically results in a reduction of symptom, which allows therapist to work towards enhancing meaningful living. In the case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, the patient fights against the obsessions or compulsions.

However, the more he fights against these symptoms, the stronger they become. Again, a vicious cycle is created. Paradox intention has been used with increasing frequency with good results especially in treating clients who suffer from phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder Guttmann, Frankl developed de-reflection to counteract hyperintention trying too hard and hyper-reflection thinking too hard.

Examples of hyperintention include trying very hard to fall asleep, excessively pursuing pleasure, happiness, or power. Addiction is a form of hyperintention. Hyper-reflection may turn everyday minor problem into catastrophes, and small obstacles into insurmountable hurdles. This technique is built upon the human capacity for self-distancing and self-transcendence. Clients are asked to redirect their attention away from their problems to more positive aspects of their lives.

For example, instead of worrying about not being able to fall asleep, the client is asked to use the time to read a book or watch TV. Typically, the first step is to help clients to put some distance between themselves and their symptoms. Then, they are invited to use their defiant power of the human spirit to transcend their present conditions and move towards positive activities.

This will result in a reduction of the symptom. Fabry points that by immersing ourselves in work or by choosing the right attitude, we can transcend not only external conditions but also ourselves. The goal of de-reflection is to help clients transcend themselves and move towards creative and experiential values. It is used for noogenic neuroses, depression and addiction by promoting the will to meaning. It can also be used in coping with suffering related to circumstances, fate or illness.

Generally, the emphasis is on reframing attitudes from negative to positive. However, appealing often involves exhortation on the value of taking a heroic stand against suffering. For example, a nurse suffered from an inoperable tumor, and experienced despair because of her incapacity to work. Frankl tried to appeal to her sense of pride and moral obligation to her patients:.

The dialogue may begin with a struggle between client and therapist, but should never become negative. Another consideration is that counsellors need to know the moment when silence is more curative. Often silence occurs when the clients reflect on the deeper meanings of words from the counsellors. It is designed to help the client family discover the meaning opportunities within the family through social skills training, Socratic questioning and existential reflection Lantz, , Meaning-centred family therapy helps the family focus on meaningful goals rather than the obstacles; consequently, family members learn to overcome the obstacles in order to pursue meaningful goals Lukas, Frankl tends to emphasize partnership between therapist and client in the quest for meaning.

In the past 15 years, Dr. Do I have the necessary space, support and protection? Do I find it fulfilling? Do I experience a sense of abundance, love, and realization of values?

Do I experience validation, respect and recognition of my own worth? Joseph B. Fabry was largely responsible for introducing logotherapy to North America. He has influenced the development of integrative meaning-centred counselling and therapy MCCT Wong, , a,b,c , a, b. MCCT integrates cognitive-behavioural and narrative processes; it is a scientifically based, full-fledged counselling model. Adler, A. The practice and theory of individual psychology.

Paterson, NJ: Littlefield, Adams. Social interest: A challenge to mankind. New York: Capricorn Books. Fabry, J. Guideposts to meaning. The pursuit of meaning. New revised ed.