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are very oftenthe result of existential vacuum and the lack of meaningthat family
members are experiencing in their lives. This is somethingthat me judice cannot be
overemphasized.
4.3 Logotherapy and therapists/counselors
Logotherapy has been expandedfromFrankl's psychiatric circle to those in an ordi­
nary counseling setting. This method's bridgingfunction between the scientific 0­
rientation and the religious realm has made it into a natural therapeuticmethod for
pastoralcounselors (Leslie 1985:22-27 & Stones 1983:22-27). The fact that
logotherapists pay special attentionto the spiritualrealm especially contnbuted to
this factor. Frankl (1975:71-72) believesthatin even a manifestly irreligious person
there must be latent religiousness. This beliefinter alia contnbutes to the inseparable
link betweenpsychotherapy (logotherapy) and theology(religion) that manifests
itselfin the therapeutic/counseling setting.
There are a few reasons why logotherapy has become a helpingaid in the pastoral
setting. The logotherapeutic belief that people have the unique capacity or ability to
make choices, even in situations ofextreme stress, is one reason. Another contnbu­
ting factor is the beliefthat the therapist/counselor must use at times direct confron­
tation to challenge the erroneousbeliefs oftheir patients/clients and the view that
self-transcendence couldbe naturally integrated into the tenets ofpastoral counseling,
are all matters that made this method expand amongsttherapists and/or counselors.
Starck (1985:41-43 & 1993:94-98) said that nursing can also benefit through inclu­
dinglogotherapeutic methods and thinkingin areas like prevention, health promotion,
illness care, and rehabilitation. He believes that the three dimensions oflogothera-
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