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According to Guttmann it is only whentrust and confidence have been established,
whenthe client is sure that he/she is being understoodand when the working
relationship betweenworker and clientis built on solid foundation, will it be the time
to explore problems in more detail (Guttmann 1996:139-140).
Theprimary role ofthe logotherapist, especiallyin a social work context, is to en­
courage the clientto discusshis problemswithoutfear openly and honestly. The
therapistmayuse in this process open- and closed-endedquestions and probingmes­
sages and shouldconcentrate on specifying the concrete meaningofthe problem for
the client. This means clarifying ofvague statements, verifying facts, receivingde­
tails abouta certain behavior, or pattern of'behavior and determining whether opi­
nions expressedby the client are based in realityor are figments ofhis fantasy (Gutt-
man 1996:140). '-
The last phase ofthe logotherapeutic interviewconsists offormulating treatment
goals and objectives with the clientand negotiating a contract. Contractingmeans
the therapeutic procedurein whichnot only the goals are discussed and agreed on
between clientand worker, but also the methods,timetables and mutualobligations
ofboth partiesto the contract. Hepworth and Larsen (1987) point out thatgoals are
essential because they give direction and purpose to the problem-solving process.
They also serve as criteriaofthe progress made in the treatment and its outcome
(Guttmann 1996:140).
Socialworkers normally use interpretation in counselingto enable clients to see their
problemsin a different light and from a different perspective. Interpretationcan help
clients to weighnew alternatives in their approachto a problem and to search for
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