VIKTOR FRANKL
LOGOTHERAPY
Theory of Choice Group Presentation
Jaclyn Cervo
Nora Coleman
Michael Driscoll
Kristella Matahartshorn
Melissa Windham
Viktor Frankl 1905-1997
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Vienna, Austria

Neurologist and
Psychiatrist
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Specialized in suicide
and depression
World War II
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1942- Terezín
October 1944- Auschwitz and Turkheim
April 1945- liberated by the Americans
From Death-Camp to Existentialism

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Freedom of will – responsibility
Will to meaning - striving vs. driven
Meaning of life - always possible
Creating - experiencing – suffering
Attitude toward guilt - pain- death
Logotherapy


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Meaning Centered Psychotherapy
Focus on the future
Emphasizes human responsibleness
Emotions are relative
Freedom
Techniques
Role of therapist
 Role of client
 Intention
 Length

Spirituality

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Noological vs. spiritual dimension
Conversion always possible
Being worthy of the cross
Humans capable of great good/evil
Conflicts with Christianity
Closing Thoughts from Frankl
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It doesn’t matter what we expect from life,
but what life expects from us.
Love is the ultimate and highest goal to
which man can aspire.
He who has a why to live for can bear with
almost any how.
That which does not kill me, makes me
stronger.
References
Corey, G. (1996). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy.
Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Frankl, V.E. (1967). Psychotherapy and existentialism: Selected papers
on Logotherapy. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Frankl, V.E. (1975). The unconscious God. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Frankl, V.E. (1984). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to
logotherapy. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Frankl, V. E. (1986). The doctor and the soul. New York: Vintage Books.
Frankl, V. E. (2000). Man's search for ultimate meaning. New York: MJF
Books.
Jones, S. & Butman R. (1991), Modern Psychotherapies: A
Comprehensive Christian Appraisal, Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity
Press.
Rice, G. (n.d.). Life and works of viktor frankl. Retrieved from
http://www.logotherapyinstitute.org/life-and-works.html