WCP 2025

I invite you to a dialogue about the anthropological perspective of Viktor Frankl (1947-1997) and the Brazilian creator of the Direct Approach to the Unconscious, Renate Jost de Moraes (1936-2013). There are already studies on the connections between the two approaches, which I would like to delve into: In the first step, I will historically classify the emergence of Direct Approach to the Unconscious in the context of psychological approaches in Brazil in the 1970s and 1980s. In doing so, I will address the epistemological critique of scientism and determinism, already introduced by Viktor Frankl's logotherapy. In a second step, I will show how Jost de Moraes, although he did not formulate an explicit theory of clinical psychology in her writings, she obtained many insights from her experience and studies that can serve to broaden the understanding of clinical psychology.
The innovative perspective refers not only to the genesis of the various forms of illness and human suffering as linked to the experience of lack of love, but also to the therapeutic environment in which the power of love is incorporated, mobilizing a transformative effect, while at the same time assuming a meaning-filling function. In this sense, it seems sensible to draw a parallel between the approaches of Frankl and Jost de Moraes, since both, based on different approaches, transcend a purely psychophysical view of the human being and postulate a three-dimensional understanding. In this case, love is not reduced to the personal satisfaction of needs, but is seen as a potential for self-transcendence. It is a devotion to the other person without expectations and the discovery of a deeper meaning in life. In this context, the focus is on the question: What innovative aspects can we obtain from the approaches of Frankl and Jost de Moraes for our self-image as psychologists and our clinical work?

This presentation introduces Mindfulness-Based Creative Art Expressive Therapy (MBCAET) as an integrative psychotherapeutic approach for working with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in migrant populations. Rooted in humanistic psychology, mindfulness-based interventions, creative arts therapies (CATs), and Gestalt therapy, MBCAET offers a holistic and culturally adaptable method to address the psychological impact of forced migration and trauma.
Against the background of the Venezuelan migration crisis, this approach responds to the specific challenges faced by displaced individuals, including emotional dysregulation, dissociation, and barriers to verbal communication. MBCAET combines structured mindfulness practices with creative and somatic techniques to promote emotional expression, self-regulation, and identity reconstruction.
The model draws from experiences in Emotional Support Groups developed by the Fundación Venezolana de Psicología del Arte (2018–2024) and is supported by content analysis of theoretical, clinical and neuroscientific literature. Key elements of the intervention include mindful art-making, meditative writing, movement-based expression, and the use of narrative and symbolic forms to integrate fragmented traumatic experiences.
MBCAET aligns with international standards for psychotherapy, particularly in its emphasis on experiential methods, the therapeutic relationship, and scientific grounding. The presentation will outline the therapeutic structure, methodological innovations, and practical implications for clinical use. While initial outcomes point to enhanced emotional resilience and reduced PTSD symptoms, further empirical validation is required.
This contribution aims to open a dialogue on the potential of integrative, arts-based and mindfulness-oriented psychotherapies to support migrant populations in healing trauma and restoring agency in contexts of displacement and uncertainty.

Kurt Greiner: PSYCHO, NEURO und TEXT
Das hermeneutische Operationsprinzip psychodynamischer Wissenspraxen

Martin Jandl: Hermeneutisches Verstehen vs. phänomenologisches Erleben - Umgang mit unterschiedlichen Subjektivierungsweisen

Tamara Trebes: Jenseits der Messbarkeit: 
Poetologik als erkenntnistheoretische Perspektive in der Psychotherapiewissenschaft