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eplacingit with a healthyattitude to life, may bring about a new sense ofselfand
well-being. The uniquecapacity ofhuman beings to laugh at themselves, turned into
a therapeutic device by Frankl,has been found to be ofgreat importance for survival
both in the clinical and the communal sense.
In referring to the reality and success ofparadoxicalintention as- a technique, Bulka
(1989:58) said that " ...throughlaughing at defeat, we transcend it; by jesting in the
midst of our predicament, we transcendit; by smiling in the midst ofdepressing
circumstances, we retain our individual and group sanity."
How do we evaluate paradoxicalintention? It is importantto remember thatthis me­
thodwas meant to be used in conjunction with physiological aids like pharmaceutical
therapy. While biomedical models are concerned with the role ofdisease; individual
biochemistry and human geneticsin psychological disorders (Kendall & Hammen
1995:62), the therapist using paradoxical intention, will not focus on these issues.
He/she will acknowledge possible medicaland biological factors that may be present
and/or playapossible role in the life ofhis patient/client, but the intention ofFrankl
with paradoxical intentionwas that thistechniquemust focuses on the "psychological
aspects", not the medicallbiological aspects.
This methodis a "method of"opposites" because when you fear you must imagine
that you are scared! The use of"symbols" are important; imaginarysymbols. The
patient/client is cognitively involvedin the therapeutic process because he/she must
"intend" (a cognitiveprocess). Choice plays an important, ifnot the decisive role, in
the wholehealing process. A rational decisionmust be taken by the client/patient.
To put it differently, the client/patientmust "decide" what he/she is going to do in the
givensituation. By taking their own decision, it becomes possible for the client!
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