One of Logo therapy’s major tenets is finding meaning in suffering (Didelot, Hollingsworth, & Buckenmeyer, 2012). Depression and major depression disorder (MDD) are a multidimensional illness affecting individuals over the course of a lifetime and have high rates of recurrence. MDD is a common mental health illness that affects upwards of 13.2% of the population (Chisholm-Burns et al., 2013). MDD affects approximately “1 in 5 adults worldwide” and is the fourth major cause of disability (Olgiati, Bajo, Bigelli, Montgomery, & Serretti, 2013, p. 1740). Primary care providers are treating mental illness at increasing rates with upwards of “43% to 60%”… and only “17% to 20%”… are being treated by a mental health care specialist such as psychiatrists or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), (Loeb et al., 2015, p. 359). Depression is often caused by the failure to meet unattainable expectations set forth by individuals and society (Didelot et al, 2012). Low self-esteem, isolation, and feelings of insecurity are other causes leading to feelings of depression. A MDD episode diagnosis, according to American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th ed. (DSM-5) occurs when the client has symptoms for at least 2 weeks that bring about change from normal previous functioning (APA, 2013). These …show more content…
The existential approach supports the clients moving anxieties and depression into motivational anxiety, finding meaning and purpose in the difficulties, and personal growth (De Castro, 2013). Some barriers therapist face is existential frustration and the “existential vacuum of emptiness or lack of meaning in a client’s life” (De Castro, 2013, p. 26). Boredom also produces emptiness in many which leads to more isolation and meaninglessness. Addiction more often than not accompanies depression with the client self-medicating the empty self. Existential therapy and logo therapy is based on the freedom of the will. Supporting the client to find meaning and purpose in any condition they are facing. Every client’s meaning and purpose is unique based on his or her own individual life experiences and goals. The therapist is supporting clients’ ability to gain meaning through higher awareness, spiritual meaning, and creative task such as music or dance. Helping clients explore experiential values of art, nature, loving others, opening up social supports and a sense of humor. Finding the freedom to choose one’s attitude towards finding opportunities to use suffering as motivation for creating changes in life, being a role model for coping with addiction or illness (De Castro, 2013). Viktor Frankl states “life