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nobody supportedbimlherin hislher struggle for survivaland althoughhe/she has an
incurable disease, he/she will still show to himselflherself, and others, that he/she is
capable oflivinga decentlife" (Guttmann 1996:133).
Lukas (1986a:125) wrote that she tries to reduce the patient's/client's self-pity which
is like a whirlpooldragging them down into hopelessness. Self-pitycan express it­
self in many forms; as a raging againstfate (why me?), as a blaming ofparents or
societyfor everything that goes wrong, as complaintsand a resignation (all is use­
less); or as a harmful form ofsatisfaction, not one that challengesthe undesirable
situation, but one that saps all strength.
Patti Coetzer (1992:106) goes further than Lukas and said that she considers being
grateful as a way that can be followed even when one is weak and vulnerable. For
there are manythings to be grateful about. Frankl agrees that gratefulness is a way to
realize meaning. This attitude can be used to ease the sufferings ofpeople in the
throes ofan existential vacuum and can comfort the bereaved.
Guttmann (1996:134) mentions the example ofan old man of79 years who was the
only survivorofhis familyafter the Auschwitz holocaust, who did not see any reason
for continuing livingon - who he (Guttmann)confronted and challenged not to throw
his life away, but to share what he had with others. The old man then realised that he
was too busy with himselfand that he must start behaving like those who did not
have what he had but still continuedto live an enjoyable life.
A review ofthe concept ofchange reveals that self-understanding and experiencing
the self in new ways with new feelings are the rational and the experiential compo­
nents ofchange. Change principles are aimed at providing the client with the ability
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