What it involves
Like Socrates, who compared his work to midwifery, the logotherapist does not hand out ready answers. They ask questions that help the other person “give birth” to their own discovery of meaning.
Why not give advice?
Meaning is personal and unique - the therapist cannot give it. They can only widen the field of vision so that the client can see possibilities, values and resources for themselves. Such dialogue also protects against moralising.
Sample questions
- What in your life really matters to you?
- Who or what is waiting for you?
- When did you last feel that what you were doing made sense?
- How would you like to go through what you cannot change?
- What would someone who loves you say about this?
Related techniques
Logotherapy also uses attitude modulation, the “Ecce homo” technique (recalling people who found meaning in a similar situation) and work with the past as a storehouse - what has already been realised.
Sources
E. Lukas, works on logotherapeutic practice; Wikipedia: Logotherapy.