View/Open - UZSpace Home

to tum formerly negative attitudes into positivebehavior. The therapistshouldbe
ableto distinguish betweenclientattitudes that can be altered and those that are ra­
ther fixedandto whichthe former must adapt. Changesintroduced must be compa­
tiblewith client values,beliefs, felt needs and the social environment ofother people
or "significant others" who must be considered.
Becausetiming, ability and readiness to accept change are criticalelements in the
change effortof both clientand therapist, the logotherapist uses techniques as secon­
dary to the uniqueness ofthe clientand fits them accordingto client needs, usingin
the process whatevertheory,tools and technique thatbest helps himlherto attain the
therapeutic goal. He/sheis guidedby the recognition that people have the capacityto
change, despite theirpast or presentbehavior. They can choosenew values, lifestyles
and can act to attain them. Beliefin the client and his sincereeffort to change is
therapeutic. By affirming one's sense ofself-worth, the road is open for the change
soughtafter (Guttmann 1996:135).
2.1.6 The Socratic dialogue
This dialogue is regarded as logotherapy's maintool in helping seekers search for
meaning. Waysthat are used in this communicative dialogue in order to find mean­
ing include self-introspection, self-discovery, choice, uniqueness, responsibility, ac­
countability and self-transcendence. Whatis importantin this communication set­
ting is the exchange ofverbal and non-verbal information between the logotherapist
and the patient/client.
The question may arise as to what is the difference between everydaycommunication
and effective psychotherapeutic discourse? For many the difference lies in the
64