Applying Logotherapy in Teaching Meaning in Life in Professional Training and Social Work Education

Meaning in life is an important topic for professional training and social work education. This article aims to illustrate how a meaning-based approach-logotherapy-could be applied as the framework in teaching meaning in life to social work students and helping professionals. It also critically examines the experience of teaching meaning in life and integrating it with various training and education components, such as human behaviours, end-of-life and bereavement care, and self-care of helping professionals. Reflections on these teaching experiences suggest that the significance of teaching meaning in life is recognised by helping professionals and students. Lack of systematic and continuous training and education of meaning in life may be a hindrance for more in-depth understanding and learning. More case examples and discussion may help advance helping professionals' practice to facilitate service users' meaning searching. Reflecting on meaning in life may also facilitate helping professionals' coping with existential challenges in work, but such self-care training should be offered regularly to provide continuous support. This article suggests that teaching meaning in life may have great implications for the psychological health of helping professionals and the service users who receive their professional services. Meaning in life is an important topic for professional training and social work education. This article aims to illustrate how Viktor Frankl's logotherapy could be applied as the framework in teaching meaning in life to social work students and helping professionals. It critically examines the experience of teaching meaning in life and integrating it with various training and education components, such as human behaviours, end-of-life and bereavement care, and self-care of helping professionals. Reflections on these teaching experiences suggest that the significance of teaching meaning in life is recognised by helping professionals and students, especially its dual influence on both personal and professional aspects. Lack of systematic and continuous training and education of meaning in life may be a hindrance for more in-depth understanding and learning. More case examples and discussion may help advance helping professionals' practice to facilitate service users' meaning searching. Reflecting on meaning in life may also facilitate helping professionals' coping with existential challenges in work, but such self-care training should be offered regularly to provide continuous support. This article suggests that teaching meaning in life may have great implications for the psychological health of helping professionals and the service users who receive their professional services.

Automated summary

This article explores the application of Viktor Frankl's logotherapy as a framework for teaching meaning in life to social work students and helping professionals, highlighting the importance of teaching meaning in life. Reflections on teaching experiences indicate that the significance of teaching meaning in life is recognized by helping professionals and students. Lack of systematic training and education in meaning in life may hinder deeper understanding and learning. More case examples and discussion can enhance practice and facilitate service users' search for meaning. Reflection on meaning in life can also help professionals cope with existential challenges in work, and regular self-care training should be offered for continuous support. Teaching meaning in life has significant implications for the psychological health of helping professionals and their service users.