Here is a clip of an interview I did on KBSD-TV Channel 6 in Dodge City on 11 October 2007. At the time, I was just beginning to study Viktor Frankl and beginning to integrate his techniques into my practice.
This clip is from 28 September 2007 and deals with dementia.
Recent Posts
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
July 4th Tea Party
Last week, I spent Independence Day at a Tea Party protest of excessive government spending. TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already. About 100 to 150 people attended the event held at Western State Bank. State Representatives Larry Powell, Melvin Neufeld and Gary Hayzlett and State Senator Tim Huelskamp spoke. A representative from Congressman Jerry Moran also addressed the audience.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
My "Other" Trip to Texas
With all the excitement of attending the 17th World Congress on Logotherapy the past week, I forgot to mention my "other" trip to Texas. Over a long weekend before the Congress, I was able to go to Austin and take professional drum lessons from an instructor who goes by the name Suleiman Warwar. Yes, I learned I had picked up some bad habits while teaching myself the darbuka, especially on the left-handed "ca" sound. More variability of tones will be possible once I become proficient using the left ring finger, rather than the index and middle fingers as I had been using. (The Turks have developed a multiple finger rolling approach for the left-handed "ca," but this is a more advanced technique.)
The middle eastern goblet drum is most commonly referred to as a "tabla" these days, as it is in Egypt. Previously, it was most commonly referred to as a "doumbek" as it is in most other Arab lands. The word "doumbek" is thought to derive from the two primary sounds that the drum makes: the deep "doum" and the ringing "tek." For personal reasons, I prefer to use the Turkish word "darbuka" when referring to my drum. In Hebrew, it is known as a "tarbuka." In Iran it is a "tombak."The goblet drum is of ancient origin. It is thought to have derived from the larger African djembe. The oldest known depiction of it comes from Iron Age Israel in the form of the figure to the right.
Linked below is a short example of what it should look and sound like:
Monday, June 22, 2009
Live Blogging: World Congress Day 5
Saturday began with one of the highlights of the Congress: the premier showing of Viktor and I, a documentary film of the life of Viktor Frankl as presented by Alexander Vesely, Dr. Frankl's grandson. The film is not yet complete. This means that Saturday's showing will likely never be seen in quite that way again.
Following that, I attended a presentation on humor by Jo Ann Thorp and learned more about magnets than I expected.
Hadi Asghari then talked about his years of imprisonment during the Iranian Revolution. Walking, and even running now, Mr. Asghari remains an enduring testament to the defiant power of the human spirit.
After lunch, Barbara Johnson from South Africa reminded us of the guidance of the spirit.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in clinical colloguium as cases were presented and discussed.
The evening concluded with Texas Barbeque and international talent. The group from Finland put on a comedy, the Israelis presented a song of peace in Hebrew and Arabic, Mr. Asghari sang a Persian love song, and the gentleman from India sang a hymn. Then it was Texas line dance time!
Various personal discussions then took place including the meaning of the turtle as discussed in last night's post, the state of psychoanalysis in Ireland, science fiction stories, and several other topics of interest to participants.
The 17th World Congress concluded this morning with a Fellowship Breakfast and farewells exchanged. Some of us return to work, others are going on vacation, but we all shared a profound sense of unity in the importance of our mission.
The 18th World Congress is scheduled for 2011.
Following that, I attended a presentation on humor by Jo Ann Thorp and learned more about magnets than I expected.
Hadi Asghari then talked about his years of imprisonment during the Iranian Revolution. Walking, and even running now, Mr. Asghari remains an enduring testament to the defiant power of the human spirit.
After lunch, Barbara Johnson from South Africa reminded us of the guidance of the spirit.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in clinical colloguium as cases were presented and discussed.
The evening concluded with Texas Barbeque and international talent. The group from Finland put on a comedy, the Israelis presented a song of peace in Hebrew and Arabic, Mr. Asghari sang a Persian love song, and the gentleman from India sang a hymn. Then it was Texas line dance time!
Various personal discussions then took place including the meaning of the turtle as discussed in last night's post, the state of psychoanalysis in Ireland, science fiction stories, and several other topics of interest to participants.
The 17th World Congress concluded this morning with a Fellowship Breakfast and farewells exchanged. Some of us return to work, others are going on vacation, but we all shared a profound sense of unity in the importance of our mission.
The 18th World Congress is scheduled for 2011.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Live Blogging - World Congress Day 4
Dear Friends,
I am still processing the huge amount of information presented over the past few days.
For today, perhaps the most meaningful point was that I have been initiated by Bob Ekstrom. A turtle has been given to me. Those who have been initiated and who have a turtle know the significance of this.
So much has taken place today. I am honored to have met a subscriber to this blog - one Renee Feagans and her husband Steve. It was certainly one of those "chance" encounters.
Later this morning is the International Fellowship Breakfast, after which the Congress comes to a close.
The full blog of the activities of this day will now wait until I get home to Kansas. Soon afterwards, Episode 6 of LogoTalk.net will be ready.
This Congress has been an amazing experience. The meeting of kindred spirits in this way has been unique in my experience. I am sad that we have only one more meeting on Sunday. But, the energy I have gained will, I know, sustain me in the work of Logotherapy until the next Congress two years from now.
More in another 24 hours. Stay Tuned.
I am still processing the huge amount of information presented over the past few days.
For today, perhaps the most meaningful point was that I have been initiated by Bob Ekstrom. A turtle has been given to me. Those who have been initiated and who have a turtle know the significance of this.
So much has taken place today. I am honored to have met a subscriber to this blog - one Renee Feagans and her husband Steve. It was certainly one of those "chance" encounters.
Later this morning is the International Fellowship Breakfast, after which the Congress comes to a close.
The full blog of the activities of this day will now wait until I get home to Kansas. Soon afterwards, Episode 6 of LogoTalk.net will be ready.
This Congress has been an amazing experience. The meeting of kindred spirits in this way has been unique in my experience. I am sad that we have only one more meeting on Sunday. But, the energy I have gained will, I know, sustain me in the work of Logotherapy until the next Congress two years from now.
More in another 24 hours. Stay Tuned.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Live Blogging - World Congress Day 3
Today's session got off to a tremendous start with Dr. Teria Shantall, President of the Viktor Frankl Institute for Logotherapy in South Africa. Dr. Shantall made a moving speech on Logotherapy and the urgent need for it in a time of crisis, chaos and change.
I next attended two morning sessions on the application of Franklian Psychology to business management. Rauno Korpi of Finland and Sabine Indinger of Austria made the two presentations that I heard. Ms. Indinger made the point that there are two points of view guiding human resources. One is that people are basically idle and must be motivated from the outside in order to get them to work. The other, the Franklian view, is that people are basically motivated toward performing well in tasks that they find personally meaningful. The results of these points of view on management were discussed.
The lunch time Plenary address was made by Gideon Millul, President of the Viktor Frankl Institute for Logotherapy in Israel. Mr. Millul told the story of recent beginning of the Institute in Israel and the stories of the first set of Logotherapy gradutes from that Institute.
The first afternoon session I attended was a brilliant philosophical presentation on heuristics by Dida Kimor of Israel. She shared the research from her upcoming dissertation.
Next, I attended a presentation on the application of Franklian Psychology to the "emerging adult" stage of development, that stage from 18 to around 25-29, when many know that they are technically adults, but do not yet feel fully ready for adult responsibilities.
I then attended a presentation by Abilene logotherapist Jo Ann Thorp on creative interventions for depression.
The evening awards ceremony saw many presentations as well as associates and diplomats awarded in Logotherapy. New diplomats came from a number of countries including the USA, Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Australia, Finland, and Puerto Rico.
Tomorrow's session promises to be extraordinary as well. We plan to start tomorrow with a screening of the current draft of Alexander Vesely's upcoming documentary on his grandfather, Viktor Frankl. Another highlight will be a presentation by a high ranking Iranian military officer who spent six years of solitary imprisonment under the regime of the Ayatollah Khomeini. A clinical colloquium will wind up the afternoon followed by a fellowship evening of Texas barbeque.
Stay tuned!
I next attended two morning sessions on the application of Franklian Psychology to business management. Rauno Korpi of Finland and Sabine Indinger of Austria made the two presentations that I heard. Ms. Indinger made the point that there are two points of view guiding human resources. One is that people are basically idle and must be motivated from the outside in order to get them to work. The other, the Franklian view, is that people are basically motivated toward performing well in tasks that they find personally meaningful. The results of these points of view on management were discussed.
The lunch time Plenary address was made by Gideon Millul, President of the Viktor Frankl Institute for Logotherapy in Israel. Mr. Millul told the story of recent beginning of the Institute in Israel and the stories of the first set of Logotherapy gradutes from that Institute.
The first afternoon session I attended was a brilliant philosophical presentation on heuristics by Dida Kimor of Israel. She shared the research from her upcoming dissertation.
Next, I attended a presentation on the application of Franklian Psychology to the "emerging adult" stage of development, that stage from 18 to around 25-29, when many know that they are technically adults, but do not yet feel fully ready for adult responsibilities.
I then attended a presentation by Abilene logotherapist Jo Ann Thorp on creative interventions for depression.
The evening awards ceremony saw many presentations as well as associates and diplomats awarded in Logotherapy. New diplomats came from a number of countries including the USA, Israel, South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Australia, Finland, and Puerto Rico.
Tomorrow's session promises to be extraordinary as well. We plan to start tomorrow with a screening of the current draft of Alexander Vesely's upcoming documentary on his grandfather, Viktor Frankl. Another highlight will be a presentation by a high ranking Iranian military officer who spent six years of solitary imprisonment under the regime of the Ayatollah Khomeini. A clinical colloquium will wind up the afternoon followed by a fellowship evening of Texas barbeque.
Stay tuned!
Live Blogging: World Congress Day 2
The first full day (and these are 12 hour days) began this morning with the Keynote Address by the gracious Dr. Robert C. Barnes. The audio-visual presentation discussed the history of logotherapy and the Institute.
We then broke into sessions by interest. I have covered more material in this single day than most workshops cover in one week!
The first session I attended today was Logotherapy: The Applied Psychology of Judaism, taught by Batya Yaniger from Israel. The session discussed key elements of the Jewish faith and how those elements found their parallel in Logotherapy.
The second morning session I attended was on Forgiveness Arising from Logotherapy as taught by Deborah Paden-Levy. This session brought in information from the Positive Psychology movement in the context of Logotherapy.
The Plenary Address held over lunch was presented by Dr. Robert Barnet, a medical ethicist from Georgetown University. This presentation, that became something of a debate, dealt with the ethical issues surrounding the end of life.
The first afternoon session I attended was by Dr. Trace Pirtle and dealt with the application of Franklian Psychology to education.
I next attended the session entitled "Finding Meaning in Anxiety and Worry" taught by Dr. Emina Karamanovski, a prior guest on LogoTalk.net. It was meaningful to me to run the video camera for her during her presentation (in exchange for which I hope to get a copy of the lecture, Emina! :)
The afternoon session concluded with my distance learning instructor, Dr. Cynthia Rice, presenting on "Choosing to be Grateful: A Logotherapeutic View of Gratitude As A Dimension of the Spirit." Again, information from the Positive Psychology movement found a place in the well-established home of Logotherapy.
For the evening session, I attended a screening of the French film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," a true story illustrating the defiant power of the human spirit. Discussion following the film was moderated by doctoral students Lindsay Schnetzer and Tara Luchkiw.
I finished the evening with a couple o' pints in the pub with the boys, including fascinating personalities from Austria, Germany, Ireland and Illinois. Found quite a lot in common with one of the fellows, actually, including love of coffee and Star Trek.
Tomorrow (Friday) morning with begin with a Plenary Address by the President of the Viktor Frankl Institute in South Africa on "Our Mission As Logotherapists in the Global Upheavals of Change, Crisis, and Chaos."
We then broke into sessions by interest. I have covered more material in this single day than most workshops cover in one week!
The first session I attended today was Logotherapy: The Applied Psychology of Judaism, taught by Batya Yaniger from Israel. The session discussed key elements of the Jewish faith and how those elements found their parallel in Logotherapy.
The second morning session I attended was on Forgiveness Arising from Logotherapy as taught by Deborah Paden-Levy. This session brought in information from the Positive Psychology movement in the context of Logotherapy.
The Plenary Address held over lunch was presented by Dr. Robert Barnet, a medical ethicist from Georgetown University. This presentation, that became something of a debate, dealt with the ethical issues surrounding the end of life.
The first afternoon session I attended was by Dr. Trace Pirtle and dealt with the application of Franklian Psychology to education.
I next attended the session entitled "Finding Meaning in Anxiety and Worry" taught by Dr. Emina Karamanovski, a prior guest on LogoTalk.net. It was meaningful to me to run the video camera for her during her presentation (in exchange for which I hope to get a copy of the lecture, Emina! :)
The afternoon session concluded with my distance learning instructor, Dr. Cynthia Rice, presenting on "Choosing to be Grateful: A Logotherapeutic View of Gratitude As A Dimension of the Spirit." Again, information from the Positive Psychology movement found a place in the well-established home of Logotherapy.
For the evening session, I attended a screening of the French film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," a true story illustrating the defiant power of the human spirit. Discussion following the film was moderated by doctoral students Lindsay Schnetzer and Tara Luchkiw.
I finished the evening with a couple o' pints in the pub with the boys, including fascinating personalities from Austria, Germany, Ireland and Illinois. Found quite a lot in common with one of the fellows, actually, including love of coffee and Star Trek.
Tomorrow (Friday) morning with begin with a Plenary Address by the President of the Viktor Frankl Institute in South Africa on "Our Mission As Logotherapists in the Global Upheavals of Change, Crisis, and Chaos."
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