The elements of logotherapy in the service of the family. The sense of meaning in life among people experiencing domestic violence

The article examines domestic violence and its impact on the sense of meaning in life among women receiving support from the Crisis Intervention Center in Wieliczka. Despite advances in legislation, preventive programs, and institutional support, domestic violence remains a complex, often hidden phenomenon that generates profound trauma, emotional disintegration, loss of trust, and existential emptiness. The study, conducted in 2024 with a group of 30 women—clients of the Center—aimed to assess their level of meaning in life and evaluate the effectiveness of selected elements of Viktor E. Frankl’s logotherapy applied during crisis intervention. The analysis focused on therapeutic tools such as dereflection, paradoxical intention, and modification of attitudes, which were used to support women (and, consequently, their families) in restoring dignity, agency, and existential orientation. The article presents logotherapy as an integrative approach that encompasses the noetic—spiritual—dimension of human existence, which is particularly relevant in work with individuals who have experienced relational trauma. The findings and practical observations indicate that combining logotherapy with crisis intervention methods can significantly enhance the reconstruction of meaning, psychological resilience, and the ability to overcome the consequences of violence. The study contributes to the helping professions by highlighting the meaning-centered potential of interventions that address the spiritual and existential dimension of the human person.