The Role of Meaning in Mental Health: Why Purpose Helps Us Heal
A deeper look at logotherapy and how it shapes our approach
Many forms of therapy focus on reducing symptoms—lowering anxiety, easing depression, managing stress. While these goals are valuable, they don’t fully answer one of life’s most central questions: “What gives my life meaning?”
For many people, emotional pain is not only about what they’re experiencing, but also the absence of direction, the loss of purpose, or the feeling that their life no longer carries weight or clarity.
This is where logotherapy—the therapeutic approach developed by psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl—offers something profoundly unique.
What Is Logotherapy?
Logotherapy is a meaning-centered approach rooted in one core belief:
Human beings are motivated most deeply by the pursuit of meaning, not the pursuit of pleasure or power.
Frankl taught that people can endure extraordinary hardship if they understand the “why” behind their lives. Conversely, when meaning is lost or unclear, even day-to-day struggles can feel unbearable.
Logotherapy focuses on helping clients:
Identify what truly matters to them
Reconnect with their values
Discover purpose in both joyful and painful experiences
Make choices that align with a deeper sense of calling
It does not ignore suffering—it helps people interpret suffering in a way that builds resilience, hope, and direction.
Why Meaning Matters for Mental Health
A life without purpose often feels directionless; we get stuck, anxious, numb, or restless. But when people rediscover meaning—even a small spark of it—everything shifts.
Meaning:
Provides a reason to get up each morning
Organizes our choices
Helps us feel grounded during transitions
Reduces anxiety by giving us clarity
Strengthens resilience during hardship
Creates a sense of identity and belonging
Connects us to our values and, for many, to God
Meaning gives suffering a context. Meaning gives growth a path. Meaning gives life a sense of why.
How We Integrate Logotherapy at Logos Counseling Initiative
Our practice name isn’t accidental. Logos—meaning “word,” “truth,” or “meaning”—reflects your belief that people are strengthened and restored when they rediscover the deeper purpose beneath their experiences.
At Logos Counseling Initiative, logotherapy shapes the way we approach sessions by helping clients:
1. Identify your deepest values and longings
We explore what matters most to you—not what others expect from you, but what you feel called to.
2. Make meaning out of your past and present experiences
Whether you’re navigating grief, anxiety, or a major life transition, we help you interpret your story in a way that leads toward hope rather than discouragement.
3. Discover purpose in everyday life
You don’t need a “life mission” to have purpose. Meaning is found in relationships, kindness, faith, creativity, and simple daily choices.
4. Strengthen resilience by reframing challenges
Instead of only reducing discomfort, we help you build strength, endurance, and a deeper understanding of yourself.
5. Reconnect faith and mental health
For many clients, spiritual meaning is central to emotional well-being. We help you explore how God, hope, and purpose intersect in your healing process.
While therapy often begins with addressing symptoms, true transformation happens when we understand the deeper “why” behind our lives. Logotherapy offers a pathway to clarity, resilience, and purpose. At Logos Counseling Initiative, we are committed to supporting you as you discover what gives your life meaning and where you want your story to go next.
Support is available whenever you need it. Contact us or book online when it feels right for you.