A systematic inquiry into values and meanings through structured questions, writing, and drawing. Logoanalysis helps move from abstract awareness ("family matters to me") to a concrete action ("I want to be home for dinner every evening"). Fabry developed Frankl's method into a practical instrument, applicable in short-term work.
Step-by-step guide
- Ask a structuring question: "If five years remained — what would you definitely not want to miss?"
- Ask the client to write (or say) five most important things in life
- Explore each: "Why precisely this? What does it mean for you?"
- Identify contradictions between values and actual life
- Move from values to concrete steps: "What needs to change today?"
When to use
- Existential vacuum and the absence of orientation
- Uncertainty about life direction
- Midlife crisis
- The client lives "by inertia" without conscious values
- Work with goal-setting in the closing phase of therapy
Key phrases
If five years remained — what would you definitely not want to miss? What is important not to miss?
Follow-up questions
Name the five most important things in your life right now.
Which of these is present in your life? And which is not?
If you had to rank them — what is first?
Alternative phrasings
"Write a letter to yourself 10 years from now: what would you want to have happened?"
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not turn it into a to-do list — it is an inquiry into meanings, not planning
- ⚠️ Do not rush: values are clarified in conversation, not on a list
Source: Frankl, 1963 — Man's Search for Meaning; Fabry, 1968 — The Pursuit of Meaning
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.