LOGOTHERAPY AS SUPPORT FOR WOMEN EXPERIENCING PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Psychological abuse against women remains a pervasive and often invisible reality in Brazil, causing deep emotional damage and undermining victims’ autonomy and self-esteem. Marked by manipulation, humiliation, intimidation, and continuous control, this form of violence sustains cycles of suffering that are difficult to break. In this context, Logotherapy, developed by Viktor Frankl, emerges as a promising psychotherapeutic approach for rebuilding existential meaning and strengthening female resilience. Grounded in the concept of “will to meaning” and inner freedom, Logotherapy asserts that, even under extreme adversity, human beings can choose their attitude and discover purpose in life. This qualitative, exploratory study is based on bibliographic and documentary research, drawing on Frankl’s classic works and specialized literature on psychological violence and mental health. The analysis shows that applying logotherapeutic principles supports the recovery of identity and dignity, helping women transform pain into learning and assume existential responsibility. Concepts such as “tragic optimism” and “responsibility in suffering” reveal that trauma, far from being an unchangeable destiny, can become an opportunity for inner growth. By fostering an active search for meaning, Logotherapy enables victims of psychological abuse to break determinisms, regain autonomy, and project new life paths. The study concludes that this therapeutic approach is a relevant tool for confronting psychological violence and strengthening the mental and social health of women in the Brazilian context.