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Clinical Perspectives on Meaning pp 323–342Cite as

Integrative Meaning Therapy: From Logotherapy to Existential Positive Interventions

Abstract

This chapter first argues the need for second wave positive psychology (PP2.0), which is informed by Frankl’s logotherapy as well as existential psychology. The main thesis of PP2.0 is that, in order to attain healing and authentic happiness, one needs to confront the dark side of human existence and pursue self-transcendence—going beyond oneself to serve something greater. The chapter then introduces integrative meaning therapy and its existential positive interventions, representing the applications of PP2.0. The main contributions of this chapter are that it brings out the positive aspects of existential therapy and adds a new dimension of existential concerns to positive psychology as usual.

Keywords

  • Viktor E. Frankl
  • Logotherapy
  • Self-transcendence
  • Existential psychology
  • Positive interventions
  • Meaning therapy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Meaning-Centered Counselling Institute, Inc., 13 Ballyconnor Court, Toronto, ON, Canada, M2M 4C5

    Paul T. P. Wong Ph.D., C.Psych

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  1. Paul T. P. Wong Ph.D., C.Psych
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Correspondence to Paul T. P. Wong Ph.D., C.Psych .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Pninit Russo-Netzer

  2. Department of Psychology Clinical-Disaster Research Center (UM-CDRC), University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA

    Stefan E. Schulenberg

  3. International Academy of Philosophy, University in the Principality of Liechtenstein, Vienna, Austria

    Alexander Batthyany

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Wong, P.T.P. (2016). Integrative Meaning Therapy: From Logotherapy to Existential Positive Interventions. In: Russo-Netzer, P., Schulenberg, S., Batthyany, A. (eds) Clinical Perspectives on Meaning. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41397-6_16

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