Skip to main content
Log in

Depression, Existential Family Therapy, and Viktor Frankl's Dimensional Ontology

  • Published:
Contemporary Family Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In existential family therapy, it is believed that Viktor Frankl's dimensional ontology is a useful way to understand the different levels of depression that are important in both family assessment and family treatment. This article reviews Frankl's dimensional ontology, its usefulness for existential family treatment, the “must,” “can,” and “ought” levels of family depression, and presents clinical material illustrating the described existential family treatment approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrews, E. (1974). The emotionally disturbed family. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1955). The doctor and the soul. New York: Vintage Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1959). Man's search for meaning. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1967). Psychotherapy and existentialism. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1969). The will to meaning. New York: New American Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1975). The unconscious god. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1978). The unheard cry for meaning. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1997). Recollections. New York: Dimension Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantz, J. (1974). Existential treatment and the Vietnam veteran family. In Ohio Department of Mental Health Yearly Report (pp. 33–36). Columbus: Ohio Department of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantz, J. (1978). Family and marital therapy. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantz, J. (1993). Existential family therapy: Using the concepts of Viktor Frankl. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantz, J. (2000). Meaning-centered marital and family therapy: Learning to bear the beams of love. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantz, J., & Thorword, S. (1985). Inpatient family therapy approaches. The Psychiatric Hospital, 16, 85–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxman, J., & Ward, N. (1995). Essential psychopathology and its treatment. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zung, G. (1964). A self rating of depression scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 12, 63–67.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lantz, J. Depression, Existential Family Therapy, and Viktor Frankl's Dimensional Ontology. Contemporary Family Therapy 23, 19–32 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007868031384

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007868031384

Navigation