Logotherapy or Meaning in Life Therapy is an approach created by Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist who is a survivor of the Holocaust. The core of logotherapy lies in the assumption that the basic motivating factor of a person is the search for meaning and purpose in life.
What it helps with
How it works
Early on
You and your counsellor talk about what feels empty or stuck, and what has mattered to you: people, work, beliefs, or ways you have faced hard times.
As you go
Together you choose small steps that fit your values, like reaching out to someone or giving time to a cause, and look at how you respond to what you cannot change.
Over time
You check in on what feels meaningful as life shifts, and adjust your goals. You and your counsellor decide together how long to keep going.
Not sure? A free consultation can help you choose.
Where
About
Logotherapy allows a person to find some sense even in hard times. As opposed to symptom treatment, this approach emphasizes the search for values, purpose, and opportunities. It is believed that although we do not have any influence over events, we can influence our reaction towards them.
Logotherapy suggests that every human being can find meaning in their life even when they are in a lot of pain or have lost something, or something bad is happening to them. If someone does not have meaning in their life, they can feel really empty and hopeless. Like they do not belong.
People can find meaning in their relationships with others in the things that're important to them,in the things they do for others and in how they deal with the bad things that happen in life. When people figure out what is really important to them, they get a sense of direction and meaning in their life.
Logotherapy believes that people have to take responsibility for their lives and they have the freedom to make their own choices, which is a big part of it.
Logotherapy is a way to help people figure out what is important to them and what makes their life worth living. The therapist and the person getting help work together to find out what makes their life have purpose and how they can make their future better.
Techniques they use include:
This kind of therapy helps people focus on the things they can actually do something about and create a life that's true to what they value and want for themselves. Logotherapy is about finding meaning and purpose in life. That is what the therapist and the person are working towards with Logotherapy.
Logotherapy can assist people in creating more purpose in their lives as well as increasing their emotional wellness.
Positive impacts could be:
Logotherapy, or therapy for the meaning in life, may help people who suffer from:
It may also help people who wish to understand themselves better and live a more meaningful life.
No Fear Counselling offers Logotherapy, or Meaning in Life Therapy, to people seeking guidance from highly qualified therapists at our centre to find more meaning and fulfillment in life. Our therapists assist clients in exploring their values, strengths, and goals while dealing with the different challenges of life.
Logotherapy can be useful for people dealing with various issues like anxiety, depression, grief, relationship issues, burnout, and other life transition periods. In some cases, Logotherapy is used with various techniques including Existential Therapy, ACT Therapy, CBT Therapy, EFT Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Counselling.
We offer both in-person and online counselling services across Canada.
Sometimes life feels challenging when one forgets about what really matters to them. Logotherapy is the solution that will remind you of your core values, provide you with a sense of new opportunities, and motivate you to change your life.
At No Fear Counselling, Logotherapy or Meaning in Life Therapy is provided to residents of Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, Victoria, and Penticton, as well as for people living in other parts of Canada via online sessions.
Contact us now to have a consultation on Logotherapy absolutely free of charge.
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man's Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.
Frankl, V. E. (1985). The Unheard Cry for Meaning: Psychotherapy and Humanism. Washington Square Press.
Counselling Therapist
Counselling Therapist
FAQs
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In logotherapy, also called meaning in life therapy, you and your counsellor talk about what gives your life meaning and what gets in the way. You might look back at moments when you felt most yourself, name the people and causes you care about, or explore how you want to respond to a hard situation you cannot change. Between sessions, you may try a small step that fits your values and talk about how it went.
Both look at big questions like freedom, choice and purpose, but logotherapy keeps a steady focus on finding meaning. Existential therapy often explores a wider range of themes, such as being alone, not knowing and death. Logotherapy also tends to look ahead, at goals and actions that fit what matters to you. Neither is better, and your counsellor can help you see which feels right for you.
Logotherapy can help some people find a way to carry a loss, though it does not take the pain away. Your counsellor may help you honour what the person or thing meant to you and explore what still matters now. You share only what you are ready to share, at your own pace. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), or call 911 if you are in danger.
Yes, logotherapy is mostly conversation, so many people find it feels natural by video. You can meet in person or online from anywhere in BC. Our intake team suggests counsellors who fit what you need, your language, your budget and where you want to meet.
It may be, depending on your plan. Many extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors and Canadian Certified Counsellors (RCC/CCC), and our team includes RCCs, so check your own plan to see what it covers. We also offer sliding scale rates for eligible people, and our fees and funding page has more details.