Logotherapy: Concept of the Human Being (Coursera)

Logotherapy: Concept of the Human Being (Coursera)

The main aim of the course is to provide you with insights into the logotherapeutic approach to psychotherapeutic practice and the practice of living one’s life; to teach you the main concepts of logotherapy, with reference to what a human being is; to demonstrate the application of logotherapy in some tasks and issues; to inspire you to get to know yourself and help you live freely and responsibly, solving the most important issues of choice and, as a result, leading a dignified existence.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Our task is also to inspire you to further study the entire course of logotherapy and move on to living a logotherapeutic life and understanding the practical methods and techniques.
Upon completion of the course, psychologists will be able to greatly enrich their view of phenomena occurring in their patients and clients and understand the main concepts of logotherapy. Students will be able to make the right decision concerning their future Specialization. Many seemingly complex and complicated situations will look different to you, and in spite of everything, you will experience, in the words of Schweitzer, a “reverence for life”.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Philosophical foundations
In the first module you will study biography of Viktor Frankl, which is in many respects a result of his unique attitude and response to tough life circumstances. You will study the concept of the human being according to logotherapy, based on the unity and integrity of physical, psychic and spiritual. Understanding this unity will allow you to make a free choice.

WEEK 2
Psychonoetic antagonism
In this module you will learn about the essential human phenomenon, "the defiant power of the human spirit", and how it can be efficiently used by psychotherapists in their practical work.
You will see that attempts to limit yourself by psychophysics, disregarding the noetic dimension, will lead you to a distorted image of man. People often don’t see themselves as free. Still, it is an illusion, and the logotherapeutic approach presented in this module will show you what it looks like, in the form of a roleplay, and how we can deal with the lack of freedom.

WEEK 3
Psychonoetic antagonism (continuation)
In the third module, you will get to know the logotherapeutic approach to the concepts “aggression” and “happiness.” You will see that the original and reasonable view of these concepts inspires people and engages their key resources. Addressing your personal experience will confirm this information, and a detailed case analysis will show the peculiarities of logotherapy in dealing with problems and symptoms.

WEEK 4
The concept of meaning in logotherapy
The module “The concept of meaning in logotherapy” will give you an understanding of what is meant by ‘meaning’ in logotherapy and how to make meaningful choices. Applying the knowledge of making meaningful decisions, in both your personal and professional life, will give you a wider and calmer outlook on everything happening in the world. You will understand the difference between what you are obliged to do and what should happen in the world because of you. The role play, illustrating choice based on conscience, will show you the possibility of finding a decent solution to a complicated problem

WEEK 5
Dealing with oneself
This module “Dealing with oneself” introduces the essential human abilities: self-detachment and self-transcendence, which allow a person to distance themselves from a symptom and relate to something bigger than themselves. After studying self-awareness from a logotherapeutic point of view, you will not only be able to change the way you look at your personal development and change process, but also be able to take care of your clients and yourself in the best possible way. By applying a logotherapeutic approach to burnout, you will be able to achieve an effective balance in your professional and personal life.

WEEK 6
Crisis prevention
This module will teach you how to apply a logotherapeutic approach to stress and trauma, focusing not only on things that cause damage, but also how to overcome them. This aspect is not well studied, but it is particularly interesting for a productive life. You will learn and be able to apply a noopsychosomatic approach when the usual explanations for what is happening to a person are not enough, and you will be able to support them with your logotherapeutic knowledge. You will be able to form your own position towards the burdens of life and apply it in practice.

WEEK 7
The human being as a deciding being
The module “The human being as a deciding being” will not only explain how the mechanism of indecision and procrastination works, but it will also prove that any decision is always connected with stress and pain, and that people should be able to find the optimum based on pro-motivation, and not counter-motivation. You will see an example of how this works in the form of a role-play. The explanation offered will inspire you to change.

WEEK 8
The pathology of time
The module “The pathology of time” provides information about individual and collective positions that lead to a crisis. It will allow you to understand destructive human motives and to develop your own position toward destructive influences. You will be more durable in cases when it is necessary and more loyal in other situations. Besides, it will influence the people around you.

WEEK 9
Methods of Logotherapy
The closing module “Methods of logotherapy” will provide you with the idea of practical tools used in therapeutic process. You will learn about those methods and will be able to understand why logotherapy works this way. You will also be able to use this knowledge in your practice

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Voice Disorders: What Patients and Professionals Need to Know (Coursera) Coursera
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Voice Disorders: What Patients and Professionals Need to Know (Coursera)

Knowledge regarding vocal production physiology and management options for voice disorders have experienced rapid growth over the past 40 years. This growth has resulted in a knowledge gap amongst patients and practitioners. Entirely new subspecialties of laryngology under otolaryngology and vocology under speech-language pathology have developed in response to this gap. This MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) is designed to educated patients, allied healthcare providers, vocal trainers/coaches, general medical practitioners and otolaryngologists.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Concepts in Chinese Medicine (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Health Concepts in Chinese Medicine (Coursera)

Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine are two distinct medical systems, yet they both aim at the prevention and treatment of human diseases. With this in mind, we should understand the practice of Chinese Medicine in the context of Modern Medicine. In this course, we explore the basic theories underlying the practice of Chinese Medicine, compare and contrast the use of Chinese Medicine and Modern Medicine in Preventive Health, and discuss how to restore a healthy condition and understand the pharmacological basis of different types of Chinese tonifying herbs.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
The New Nordic Diet - from Gastronomy to Health (Coursera) Coursera
University of Copenhagen

The New Nordic Diet - from Gastronomy to Health (Coursera)

The New Nordic Diet is a new food culture developed in 2009-13 with key emphasis on gastronomy, health, and environment. Major research in its effect on acceptability, behaviour and learning skills, and disease prevention have been conducted by the OPUS centre at the University of Copenhagen and the people behind the award-winning restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. This course will give the participants the opportunity to experience a healthy and palatable new food and eating concept diet “The New Nordic Diet” and an understanding of how food and diets can affect mental and physical health and ensure the foundation for a healthier life style for future generations with a regional based diet and food culture.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education (Coursera) Coursera
University of Cape Town

Severe to Profound Intellectual Disability: Circles of Care and Education (Coursera)

This course is about caring for and educating children (and youth) with severe to profound intellectual disability. We use the idea of 'circles' to position the child at the center of the many levels of support needed. Around the child are circles of care and education - such as the parents, family, friends, caregivers, educators, health care workers and others such as neighbors, business owners and community members.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Water Supply and Sanitation Policy in Developing Countries Part 1: Understanding Complex Problems (Coursera) Coursera
University of Manchester

Water Supply and Sanitation Policy in Developing Countries Part 1: Understanding Complex Problems (Coursera)

Our course explores what can be done to solve the complex problem that half a billion people worldwide do not have improved water supplies and two billion do not have improved sanitation. We look forward to you joining us. We want to help you develop the skills you need to address this major global challenge of the 21st century.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Serious Gaming (Coursera) Coursera
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Serious Gaming (Coursera)

Have you ever wondered how playing games can help us to train people, deal with societal challenges or raise awareness of contemporary social issues? In this MOOC you will learn the ins and outs of games that are designed with exactly those purposes in mind: serious games. We will define serious games and discuss the different types that have been developed. We will explain why people like to play them and what impact they may have.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Meditation: A way to achieve your goals in your life (Coursera) Coursera
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - KAIST

Meditation: A way to achieve your goals in your life (Coursera)

Do we truly think that we have lived for ourselves? Perhaps we have lived for money, love, fame, family and pride etc.? Therefore, we don’t seem to be satisfied even though we are full of those things. It is because that we don’t know ourselves. Eric Fromm talked about human nature as two modes of being: “To Have” and “To Be”. If we are “Having” the nature of possessions, we are not satisfied, and feel empty and futile. Then, how can we be “Being” the nature of our inner-selves? Sometimes, we happened to be aware of this “Being” nature and try to change ourselves, but fail. But, because of our daily routines, it’s easily forgotten. And more it is hard to escape from our unwanted minds controlling us.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Gamification (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Gamification (Coursera)

Gamification is the application of game elements and digital game design techniques to non-game problems, such as business and social impact challenges. This course will teach you the mechanisms of gamification, why it has such tremendous potential, and how to use it effectively.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Major Depression in the Population: A Public Health Approach (Coursera)

Public Mental Health is the application of the principles of medicine and social science to prevent the occurrence of mental and behavioral disorders and to promote mental health of the population. This course illustrates the principles of public health applied to depressive disorder, including principles of epidemiology, transcultural psychiatry, health services research, and prevention. It is predicted that by 2020 depressive disorder will be the most important cause of disease burden in the entire world! Every human being suffers from feeling depressed at some point or other, but only about one fifth of the population will experience an episode of depressive disorder over the course of their lives.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Administrative/IT Perspective) (Coursera) Coursera
Columbia University

HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Administrative/IT Perspective) (Coursera)

HI-FIVE (Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment) Training is an approximately 10-hour online course designed by Columbia University in 2016, with sponsorship from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The training is role-based and uses case scenarios. No additional hardware or software are required for this course. Our nation’s healthcare system is changing at a rapid pace.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks