Logotherapy Revisited

The purpose of this book is to present the core principles of Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy, and to outline how Logotherapy can be used in conjunction with other forms of interventions. As we proceed, we will illustrate how Logotherapy is more than a philosophy, but it also a theory of personality, and therapy. Our first consideration in this regard will rest on the assumption that each theory leads to certain practical applications in psychology, and the practical applications refer back to an underlying school of thought. Thus, we will examine the theory behind Logotherapy, as well as its concrete applications in clinical practice. Our goal will be to illustrate the inductive and deductive interplay between theory and therapy, and to do this in the context of discerning meaning; enriching both theory and practice.Volume I will be devoted entirely to Logotheory. Volume II will contain the chapters which portray the practical applications of Logotherapy. Each chapter will end with Points to Ponder, which aim to bridge the individual chapters, and to highlight connections between theory and practice. The Appendix is written in form of a study guide, expanding on Logotherapy applications, with a Reflective Question at the end of each section. Corresponding to each chapter, the References section will provide an extensive list of the relevant sources, and related bibliography.The writing of this book follows the ground-structure of the Doctoral Dissertation entitled The Applications of Viktor E. Frankl's Logotherapy in Counselling Psychology, (1999) by Maria Marshall, at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, which contains a comprehensive overview of the fundamental elements of the philosophy and practice of Logotherapy, based on an extensive review of the literature, both in the German and English languages. Edward Marshall co-authored the present book, adding the chapters corresponding to the Appendix, reflecting developments in the practice, study and research in Logotherapy, since the submission of the original Dissertation. It is the intention to show the reader recent advances and current trends in Logotherapy, and its applications. This would allow the reader to find situations in everyday life and in professional activities, where Logotherapy can be usefully applied.