The Right Question Can Change a Life

Her answer to the question of how she deals with the stress – "I dance" – demonstrated to me her still healthy inner core. It directed me toward offering her mindfulness meditation, which she enthusiastically accepted. With de-reflection from psychic stress and pain, Martha experienced inner freedom and hope. Perhaps the meditation/yoga served – in addition to relaxation of her overstressed brain – as a bridge for her lost religious connections of the past.

As Dr. Frankl suggested, to assist in restoring health in all our patients, we must address the physical, psychic, and noetic dimension (Psychotherapy and Existentialism: Selected Papers on Logotherapy, New York: Washington Square Press, 1967).

Dr. van Pelt is a diplomate in logotherapy, a headache specialist, and a board-certified pediatrician in Westport Point, Mass. She has no disclosures.