Running head: LOGOTHERAPY AND ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY COMBINE 1 Logotherapy and Adlerian Play Therapy Combine: An Integrative and Developmentally Appropriate Approach to Child Therapy A Literature Review Presented to The Faculty of Adler Graduate School ___________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy ___________ By Sarah Bryna Nides ____________ Chair: Louise Ferry, PhD, LP, LMFT Reader: Amanda Ludtke, MA, LPCC ___________ April, 2018 LOGOTHERAPY AND ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY COMBINE 2 Abstract The following literature review focuses on scholarly articles that together illustrate ways in which Logotherapy can be implemented along with Adlerian play therapy in a developmentally appropriate way for children. The paper has two parts; The first includes reviews that illustrate and explain the therapeutic process proposed. The second part is a discussion in which therapeutic ideas are explained based on the information accumulated. The paper focuses on Victor Frankl’s three ways of finding meaning including, “through creating a work or doing a deed, encountering someone or experiencing something, and finding meaning in suffering” (Frankl, 2006). The therapeutic process proposed also includes the four phases of Adlerian play therapy including, “building the relationship, investigating the lifestyle, gaining insight, and providing reorientation/reeducation” (Meany-Walen, Kottman, Bullis & Taylor, 2015). The phases in the proposed form of therapy are similar to the typical Adlerian play therapy model with Logotherapy techniques incorporated into the process. The project also includes a review which demonstrates that children are able to find purpose and meaning in life events despite their developmental level (Banerjee & Bloom, 2015). However, children may need help from an adult such as the therapist to learn how to find meaning within unfortunate life events which is why the gaining/insight and reorientation/reeducation phases are implemented (Meany-Walen et al., 2015). The paper ultimately provides review-based knowledge to support the creation of an effective form of therapy that encourages positive growth and development in young children. LOGOTHERAPY AND ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY COMBINE 3 Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Logotherapy and Adlerian Play Therapy Combine ........................................................................ 4 Development of Logotherapy ......................................................................................................... 5 Description of Logotherapy ............................................................................................................ 6 Techniques in Logotherapy......................................................................................................... 8 Research on the Importance of Finding Meaning Life ................................................................... 9 Children Benefit from “Creating a Work or Doing a Deed” ........................................................ 11 Children Benefit from “Encountering Someone or Experiencing Something” ............................ 13 Children Benefit from “Finding Meaning in Suffering”............................................................... 16 Description of Individual Psychology .......................................................................................... 19 Description of Play Therapy ......................................................................................................... 20 Individual Psychology and Play Therapy Combined to Create Adlerian Play Therapy ............... 21 Building the Relationship ......................................................................................................... 24 Investigating the Lifestyle ......................................................................................................... 25 Gaining Insight.......................................................................................................................... 25 Re-orientation/Re-education ..................................................................................................... 26 Research on the Effectiveness of Adlerian Play Therapy ............................................................. 26 Developmental Considerations in Child Therapy ......................................................................... 31 Building the Relationship Combines with Logotherapy ........................................................... 33 Investigating the Lifestyle Combines with Logotherapy .......................................................... 34 Gaining Insight Combines with Logotherapy ........................................................................... 36 Re-orientation/Re-education Combines with Logotherapy ...................................................... 37 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 39 References ..................................................................................................................................... 41 LOGOTHERAPY AND ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY COMBINE 4 Logotherapy and Adlerian Play Therapy Combine Logotherapy and Individual Psychology are both relevant and effective forms of therapy in treating psychiatric disorders and individuals with mental health symptoms. Logotherapy is a form of existentialism developed by the late Victor Frankl, that is based on Frankl’s experiences in the concentration camps during the Holocaust (Tiwari, 2015). Frankl noted that the primary drive of human beings is the “will to meaning.” Frankl believed that each individual has unique meanings that can be found through therapy to help the individual cope with life stressors and experiences (Ameli & Dattilio, 2013; Tiwari, 2015). In contrast, Individual Psychology was developed by Alfred Adler and is based on “the will to power” (Ameli & Dattilio, 2013). Adler believed that the individual who is mentally ill lacks social connection, a sense of belonging, self-enhancing beliefs, and therefore seeks power and superiority over others (Adler, 1988; Taylor & Bratton, 2014). Individual psychology, unlike Logotherapy has been adapted for use with children in a therapeutic model called Adlerian Play Therapy which helps the child develop social connections, a sense of belonging, and reorients the child’s incorrect beliefs about self, the world, and others (Kottman, 2001 as cited in Even & Armstrong, 2011; Taylor & Bratton, 2014). Research has shown that Adlerian Play therapy is effective when working with young children to eliminate unwanted behaviors, increase social skills, and establish positive mental health (Akay & Bratton, 2017; Meany-Walen, Kottman, Bullis & Taylor, 2015; Meany-Walen & Teeling, 2016). While presenting a variety of similarities and differences Logotherapy and Adlerian Play Therapy can be modified and merged to form an integrative approach to child therapy, but how can Logotherapy combined with Individual Psychology be effectively and developmentally appropriately applied to therapy with children? Research has shown the benefits of both forms LOGOTHERAPY AND ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY COMBINE 5 of therapy for children, but the two have yet to be merged to create a child friendly approach. The following paper will examine child development and the background, development, and effectiveness of Individual Psychology and Logotherapy, to create an integrative and developmentally appropriate approach for children based on the Frankl’s three ways of finding meaning, within the four stage framework of the Adlerian Play Therapy Model (Taylor & Bratton, 2014; Tiwari, 2015, p. 137). Development of Logotherapy In a book review on “A Man’s Search for Meaning,” Tiwari (2015) discussed and summarized the book written by Victor Frankl. Tiwari (2015) acknowledged that the book is a “must read” which focuses on the desire to reach a destination (p. 137). The authors described Frankl as a man who survived the brutal Nazi concentration camps and the pioneer of Logotherapy (Tiwari, 2015). Tiwari (2015) explained that although Frankl lost all possessions and experienced horrific conditions in the camps, Frankl was able to find meaning in the suffering he experienced. The review proceeds to summarize Frankl’s story, beginning with the first section of the book in which Frankl describes his experience in the camps (Tiwari, 2015). In the book, Frankl explained that he was imprisoned in Auschwitz. Frankl was taken from his family including his parents, pregnant wife, and brother, and left with lack of food, loss of hope, trauma, and loss of emotions. Due to the horrible trauma Frankl was forced to face, Frankl resulted to apathy toward all experiences including death (Tiwari, 2015). In the book, Frankl explained that a numbing sensation took over many of his fellow prisoners even after liberation. However, Frankl was still able to somehow find meaning in the memories of the people he loved which gave purpose to Frankl’s terrible experiences (Tiwari, 2015). Tiwari (2015) explained that Frankl shared in the LOGOTHERAPY AND ADLERIAN PLAY THERAPY COMBINE 6 book that the experiences he faced in the death camps taught him that although individuals are unable to avoid suffering, they can cope and find meaning