Meeting Between KAFU Students and Practicing Counseling Psychologist Vera Kulenova
On October 23, 2026, as part of the “Fundamentals of Psychological Counseling” course, students explored the application of Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy within the practice of psychological counseling. The primary goal of Logotherapy is to help individuals discover and recognize the meaning of their lives, learn to realize that meaning in their daily activities, and unlock their inner freedom, sense of responsibility, and capacity to independently determine their own attitude toward life’s circumstances.
During the session, special attention was given to one of the core components of Logotherapy: the “triad of values”—creative values, experiential values, and attitudinal values. Students discussed how one can find meaning through creative endeavors, significant life events and experiences, and by choosing one’s own attitude toward difficult life situations. In the practical segment of the session, students worked in small groups, sharing personal experiences, reflecting on meaningful moments in their lives, and identifying examples of how these various values manifest in everyday life. This exercise not only deepened their understanding of the method’s theoretical foundations but also highlighted its potential application in their future professional practice as psychologists.
At the end of the meeting, the students gathered as a full group to share their most striking insights, personal discoveries, and conclusions. The discussion served as a space for reflecting on the experience, allowing each participant to gain a fresh perspective on the question of life’s meaning.
The session demonstrated that studying Logotherapy is more than just an introduction to a psychological theory; it is an opportunity for deeper self-discovery—an exploration of one’s own values and life guiding principles. Bridging theoretical knowledge with personal experience proved to be a significant step in shaping the professional mindset and developing the skills of these future counseling psychologists.
