Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Meaning-Centered Couples Therapy: Logotherapy and Intimate Relationships

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy posits that human life has purpose and that human beings are motivated to discover meaning in their lives. This paper’s objective is to present a case for incorporating meaning into couples therapy as a way of enhancing a clinician’s existing approach. Logotherapy is a potentially useful modality, regardless of the clinician’s theoretical orientation, given its collaborative nature and focus on the significance of meaning and values to the human condition. A logotherapeutic approach to couples therapy (i.e., meaning-centered couples therapy) would involve values clarification (individually and collectively) and emphasis on a love that is based on acceptance and self-transcendent growth. Logotherapy techniques are discussed, a composite illustration is presented, and recommendations for research are offered.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bevvino, D. L., & Sharkin, B. S. (2003). Divorce adjustment as a function of finding meaning and gender differences. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 39, 81–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, C. M. (2004). Clinical issues with same-sex couples: A review of the literature. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 3, 3–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crumbaugh, J. C. (1973). Everything to gain: A guide to self-fulfillment through logoanalysis. Chicago, IL: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crumbaugh, J. C., & Henrion, R. (2004). The power of meaningful intimacy: Key to successful relationships. Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doherty, W. J. (2001). Take back your marriage: Sticking together in a world that pulls us apart. New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duba, J. D., & Watts, R. E. (2009). Therapy with religious couples. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 62, 210–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, N. B., & Baucom, D. H. (2002). Enhanced cognitive-behavioral therapy for couples: A contextual approach. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ernzen, F. I. (1990). Frankl’s mountain range exercise. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 13, 133–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabry, J. (1981). The frontiers of logotherapy. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 4, 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabry, J. (1988). Guideposts to meaning: Discovering what really matters. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabry, J. B. (1994). The pursuit of meaning: Viktor Frankl, logotherapy, and life (New rev. ed.). Abilene, TX: Institute of Logotherapy.

  • Fabry, D. D. S., Sheikh, A., & Selman, M. (2007). Logotherapy can enrich cognitive behavioral therapy practice. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 30, 100–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1952). The pleasure principle and sexual neurosis. The International Journal of Sexology, 5, 128–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1975). Paradoxical intention and dereflection. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 12, 226–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1985). The unheard cry for meaning: Psychotherapy and humanism. New York, NY: Washington Square Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1986). The doctor and the soul: From psychotherapy to logotherapy (Rev. ed.). New York, NY: Vintage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1988). The will to meaning: Foundations and applications of logotherapy (Rev. ed.). New York, NY: Plume.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (1997). Man’s search for ultimate meaning. New York, NY: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. E. (2004). On the theory and therapy of mental disorders: An introduction to logotherapy and existential analysis (J. M. DuBois, Trans.). New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge. (Original work, 8th ed., published 1999).

  • Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Boston, MA: Beacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M. (1999). The marriage clinic: A scientifically-based marital therapy. New York, NY: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, J. M. (2002). A multidimensional approach to couples. In F. W. Kaslow & T. Patterson (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral approaches (Vol. 2, pp. 355–372). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graber, A. V. (2003). Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy: Method of choice in ecumenical pastoral psychology. Lima, OH: Wyndham Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guttmann, D. (2008). Finding meaning in life, at midlife and beyond: Wisdom and spirit from logotherapy. Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrix, H. (1988). Getting the love you want: A guide for couples. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutzell, R. R. (1990a). An introduction to logotherapy. In P. A. Keller & S. R. Heyman (Eds.), Innovations in clinical practice: A source book (Vol. 9, pp. 145–152). Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Exchange.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutzell, R. R. (1990b). The value awareness technique. In J. C. Crumbaugh, J. Graca, R. R. Hutzell, M. F. Whiddon, & E. Cooper (Eds.), A primer of projective techniques of psychological assessment (pp. 147–156). San Diego, CA: Libra.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutzell, R. R., & Jerkins, M. E. (1995). A workbook to increase your meaningful and purposeful goals (MPGs) (Rev. ed.). Abilene, TX: Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klingberg, H. (2001). When life calls out to us: The love and lifework of Viktor and Elly Frankl: The story behind Man’s Search for Meaning. New York, NY: Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantz, J., & First, R. (1987). Family treatment and the noetic curative factor. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 10, 110–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leslie, R. C. (1965). Jesus and logotherapy: The ministry of Jesus interpreted through the psychotherapy of Viktor Frankl. Nashville, TN: Abingdon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukas, E. (1980). Modification of attitudes. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 3, 25–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukas, E. (1991). Meaning-centered family therapy. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 14, 67–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMullin, R. E. (2000). The new handbook of cognitive therapy techniques. New York, NY: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melton, A. M. A., & Schulenberg, S. E. (2008). On the measurement of meaning: Logotherapy’s empirical contributions to Humanistic psychology. The Humanistic Psychologist, 36, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendez, M. (2004). A life with meaning: Guide to the fundamental principles of Viktor E. Frankl’s logotherapy. Victoria, BC: Trafford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassif, C., Schulenberg, S. E., Hutzell, R. R., & Rogina, J. (in press). Clinical supervision and logotherapy: Discovering meaning in the supervisory relationship. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy.

  • Niemiec, R. M., & Schulenberg, S. E. (2008). Understanding death attitudes: The integration of movies, positive psychology, and meaning management (submitted).

  • Niemiec, R. M., & Wedding, D. (2008). Positive psychology at the movies: Using films to build virtues and character strengths. Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe & Huber.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rathus, J. H., & Sanderson, W. C. (1999). Marital distress: Cognitive behavioral interventions for couples. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahakian, W. S., & Sahakian, B. J. (1972). Logotherapy as a personality theory. The Israel Annals of Psychiatry and Related Disciplines, 10, 230–244.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Savolaine, J., & Granello, P. F. (2002). The function of meaning and purpose for individual wellness. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 41, 178–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulenberg, S. E. (2003a). Empirical research and logotherapy. Psychological Reports, 93, 307–319.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schulenberg, S. E. (2003b). Psychotherapy and movies: On using films in clinical practice. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 33, 35–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulenberg, S. E., & Henrion, R. P. (2005). Logotherapy past, present, and future: A conversation with James C. Crumbaugh. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 28, 65–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulenberg, S. E., Hutzell, R. R., Nassif, C., & Rogina, J. M. (2008). Logotherapy for clinical practice. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45, 447–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spore, A. P. (2008). Meaning-centered love: Foundation of meaningful marriage. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 31, 96–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welter, P. R. (1987). Counseling and the search for meaning. Waco, TX: Word Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welter, P. R. (1995). Logotherapy-Intermediate “A”: Franklian psychology and logotherapy. The Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, Box 15211, Abilene, TX 79698-5211.

  • Wong, P. T. P. (1997). Meaning-centered counseling: A cognitive-behavioral approach to logotherapy. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 20, 85–94.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Stefan E. Schulenberg

  2. Clinical Psychology Training Program, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA

    Lindsay W. Schnetzer

  3. Rice University Counseling Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Michael R. Winters

  4. Knoxville, IA, USA

    Robert R. Hutzell

Authors
  1. Stefan E. Schulenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lindsay W. Schnetzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael R. Winters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert R. Hutzell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan E. Schulenberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schulenberg, S.E., Schnetzer, L.W., Winters, M.R. et al. Meaning-Centered Couples Therapy: Logotherapy and Intimate Relationships. J Contemp Psychother 40, 95–102 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-009-9134-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-009-9134-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation