CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING
ANDREA KUNERT & BIRGIT ADENBECK
The first part of this article renders an insight into the work of children and adolescent psychotherapists with special focus on the therapeutic attitude, with which children, adolescents and their reference system are encountered in therapeutic practice.
The second part deals with the development history of children and adolescent psychotherapy in Austria.
Keywords: attitude, children, adolescents, history of origin
FROM FRANKL TO LÄNGLE: RUPTUR AND/OR CONTINUITY?
Destruction or deconstruction?
PASCAL LE VAOU
The aim of this short text, intended for a French-speaking audience, is to show why PEA can be conceived as an extension of Frankl’s classical logotherapy, which takes into account the necessary adjustments required by a secular approach to psychotherapy. The theoretical conceptualization of the Existential Analysis of Längle allows us to move beyond the aporias that result from a too-close overlap between traditional, religiously-inspired metaphysical discourse and psychotherapeutic practice of today. In this sense, the developments made by Frankl in his time (self-distancing, de-reflection, the spirit’s defiant power, the importance of the question of meaning, etc.) remain fully relevant to the clinician, and can be taken up all the more easily in the broader context of psychotherapy, as they are no longer linked to an overly dualistic vision. The spiritual dimension is understood here as an emergent approach to mental functioning.
Keywords: Logotherapy, Existential Analysis, Frankl, Phenomenology, Religion
THE QUESTION OF LAY PSYCHOTHERAPY IN LOGOTHERAPY AND EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS – A HISTORICAL RETROSPECTIVE
MAXIMILIAN GENOW
In the immediate post-war period, Viktor Frankls’ initial position on lay psychotherapy was clearly consistent with the Act on the Medical Profession of the time: Psychotherapy should unexceptionally be practiced by physicians. However, the range of indications in Frankls’ theory of neuroses also encompasses the treatment of paraclinical phenomena for the prophylaxis of neurotic disorders, and in such occasions he supported the practice of Logotherapy by laypersons. As a matter of fact, already the first generation of Frankls’ instructing students consisted of non medical practitioners to a large extent. Nonetheless, for a long period of time Frankl showed more interest in a promotion of psychotherapeutic medicine in Austria than in an institutionalization of his method, let alone in an adaption to the legal guidelines of the psychotherapy law which had newly entered into force. It took an initiative of his students leading to the foundation of the GLE in Austria, from which he withdrew 1991 and thereupon founded the VFI and the ABILE. For 30 years now, the lawful regulation of access policies and training guidelines in Austria through source occupations officially also applies to Logotherapy and Existential Analysis.
Key words: lay psychotherapy, history of Logotherapy, institutionalization, Act on Medical Profession, Psychotherapy Law
MEN’S FEAR OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND THE FEAR IN EXISTENTIAL ANALYSIS OF GENDER IDENTITY
JOHANNES JURKA
This paper delves into the subject of masculinity within existential analytic psychotherapy. It demonstrates that while gender, and masculinity in particular, are crucial in psychotherapeutic practice, they have been largely overlooked in existential analytic research and training. Although the person can be seen as genderless, men and women face distinctly different conditions across all four personal-existential fundamental motivations. The paper further argues that traditional normative male socialization often suppresses emotionality in men, which can be existentially interpreted as a coping mechanism related to the second fundamental motivation. It highlights that Existential Analysis, with its phenomenological approach and emphasis on human potential, is ideally suited to help men embrace their unique masculinity. Finally, the paper offers recommendations for existential analytic training to better incorporate the topic of gender.
Key words: sex, gender, men, masculinity, existential philosophy, sexuality, fundamental motivations, coping reactions
25 YEARS SEARCH FOR MEANING
The Logotherapeutic Life Counselling Center in Berlin
Ralf Müller
Susanne Jaeger-Gerlach and Günter Funke jointly founded the Logotherapeutic Life Counselling Centre in Berlin. To mark 25 years of counselling practice, the article introduces the two founders, their motivation to found the center and the day-to-day counselling work. It is made clear how important it was to the team from the very beginning to make the knowledge and skills acquired in Logotherapy and Existential Analysis training available to urban society in the field of counselling and support through voluntary work.
Keywords: life counselling, support, volunteering, urban society
HELP, WE CANNOT GET ANY FURTHER!
a project close to the edge
STEFAN WEISSMANN
Most projects do not run as smoothly as planned and expected. Situations characterized by great pressure on the one hand and increasingly unclear conditions on the other are becoming more and more frequent. In these situations, fears often represent an additional obstacle when it comes to making sound and sustainable decisions.
Based on a concrete IT-project, this article shows how, despite all difficulties, a way back to meaningful action can be found with an existential analytical understanding in seemingly hopeless situations in projects.
Special attention is also given to the contract, which is understood as an expression of the common will.
KEYWORDS: fear, team work, contract, common will, histrionic coping
DON’T BE A SCAREDY-CAT! PERCEIVING AND TAKING CHILDREN SERIOUSLY
DANIELA KLINGLER
This article shows how parents and pedagogic professionals can support and help children with their fears. Referring to the first fundamental motivation according to Alfried Längle, children need support, space and protection to be able to understand and face fears confidently, courageously, even curiously. Looking at and reading picture books to children is an excellent way to help them deal with their fears.
Keywords: children’s fears, response strategies, picture books
WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART
The power of touch in anxiety therapy
URSULA ZELZER-LENZ
Fear is part of our lives and often a sign for potential developments. What can help when the fragility of life calls everything into question, when it wreaks havoc on us? When experiences shock and afflict us? When we tremble inside, freeze, hold our breath? Physical, psychological and existential experience is directly related to our body. Brief references to relevant aspects of existential-analytic theory, to existential-analytic trauma therapy and psychosomatics, as well as existential grounding point out the meaning and effect of touch and its application in anxiety therapy.
Keywords: anxiety, breaking, touch, body, breath
MEANING AND THE SEARCH ACTIVITY –
RELATIONSHIP, ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES
PETER INDURSKY
The article presents the search for meaning (of life, love, creativity, labour, suffering, and dignity) and the concept of search activity (SA) as independent concepts. SA is theorized as a form of behaviour, manifested both in animals and much more complexly in humans. The article also discusses the relationship between meaning and SA in the evolutionary stages of human development. The existence of a link between personal meaning and SA is postulated as a motivational component, as well as free will in their manifestation. A typology of behaviour in light of the relationship between SA and meaning and the stages of development of personal meaning and SA are discussed. It is suggested that SA is a factor in the transition from meaning to new meaning; thus, idea of an ideal meaningful life is put forward. Research suggests that dreams are related to the recovery of SA. Finally, the article puts forth prospect for studying the relationship between meaning and SA, and the use of Logotherapy and SA in psychotherapeutic practice is discussed.
Keywords: Logotherapy, Search Activity, Meaning, Sleep, Dream.