Application Of Logotherapeutic Skills In Interpreting The Meaning-Action Triangle Of A Family Caregiver: A Case Analysis

Abstract

Enhancing wellbeing in families and society demand a special focus on family caregivers as reported in the caregiver research section of the American Psychological Association. Familial compassion of caregivers plays a significant role in ensuring a positive caregiving experience. Earlier researchers present a significant increase in care-giver stress and hence compassion fatigue in family caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses or addictive disorders who are prone to experience existential questions involving the spiritual and psychological dimensions. The philosophical approach of Logotherapy that believes in healing through meaning emphasises on the spiritual and psychological well-being of human beings. The present research aims at the analysis of the applicability of logotherapeutic skills in decreasing the compassion fatigue of family caregivers using a structured manual by Marie S Dezelic. Standardised manualised treatment approach is adopted in the analysis to prevent the risk of bias. Single subject analysis is implemented by considering appropriate ethical factors as caregiving experiences are subjective. Multiple observations of compassion fatigue is done. It is identified that there is a significant decrease in compassion fatigue across the multiple assessment points during the intervention. Meaning Action Triangle serves as a potential therapeutic tool in offering the psychological aid to the family caregiver under study, enabling the subject to gain resilience by becoming existentially aware in the journey towards self- transcendence.