Toni Merhi to Speak at the 25th World Congress of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy
Motion Emotion is proud to announce that Toni Merhi will participate as a speaker at the 25th World Congress of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026.
His presentation, titled “Logotherapy and a Holistic Approach in Pain Management and Rehabilitation,” will explore how meaning, personal values, emotional wellbeing and physical rehabilitation can come together to support people experiencing pain.
Understanding Pain Beyond Physical Symptoms
Pain is a deeply personal and multidimensional experience. Although it may begin with an injury, health condition or physical dysfunction, its intensity and impact can also be influenced by emotional distress, fear, beliefs, relationships, work demands and a person’s overall sense of purpose.
This is particularly important in cases of persistent or chronic pain. Two people with similar physical conditions may experience pain very differently. Their expectations, coping strategies, personal circumstances and understanding of the condition can all shape how they respond to treatment and rehabilitation.
For this reason, effective pain management should not focus exclusively on the painful body part. It should consider the individual as a whole.
A holistic approach to pain management may include:
Physical assessment and rehabilitation
Movement and functional recovery
Education about pain
Emotional and psychological support
Lifestyle and behavioural factors
Personal goals, values and sources of meaning
Active participation in the recovery process
This approach does not suggest that pain is imaginary or purely emotional. Instead, it recognises that biological, psychological and social factors interact to influence the pain experience.
What Is Logotherapy?
Logotherapy is a meaning-centred approach developed by psychiatrist and neurologist Viktor Frankl. It is based on the idea that the search for meaning is a central human motivation.
Within rehabilitation, logotherapy can help individuals explore questions such as:
What remains meaningful despite my pain or physical limitations?
What activities and relationships matter most to me?
How can I respond to circumstances that I cannot immediately change?
What possibilities remain available to me?
What would meaningful progress look like in my daily life?
These questions can be especially relevant for people living with chronic pain, disability or a long rehabilitation journey. Persistent symptoms can affect more than physical comfort. They may disrupt employment, relationships, independence, identity and future plans.
Meaning-centred support can help patients reconnect with what matters to them and take purposeful steps towards participation, independence and quality of life.
Connecting Logotherapy With Pain Management and Rehabilitation
Traditional rehabilitation often measures progress through pain levels, strength, mobility and physical function. These indicators are important, but they do not always capture the patient’s complete experience.
A person may improve physically while still feeling afraid to return to activity. Another person may continue to experience some pain but successfully resume meaningful roles, relationships and daily activities.
Integrating logotherapy into a holistic rehabilitation approach encourages clinicians to look beyond symptoms and consider the life the patient wants to rebuild.
The objective is not to romanticise suffering or suggest that every painful experience must have a positive meaning. It is to help individuals identify purpose, responsibility and possible choices, even when their circumstances remain difficult.
In practice, this may mean helping a patient connect rehabilitation goals with personally meaningful outcomes, such as:
Playing with their children or grandchildren
Returning to work with greater confidence
Participating in a valued hobby
Regaining independence in daily activities
Reconnecting socially
Feeling more capable and involved in treatment decisions
When rehabilitation goals are connected to personal meaning, the patient may experience the process as more relevant and motivating.
The Importance of Listening to the Patient’s Story
Holistic pain management begins with careful listening.
Clinical tests and physical findings provide essential information, but they do not always reveal how pain is affecting the person’s identity, relationships, confidence or daily decisions.
A patient-centred assessment should therefore explore both physical symptoms and the broader lived experience of pain.
Important areas may include:
The patient’s understanding of the condition
Their concerns and expectations
Activities they have stopped or avoided
The roles they fear losing
Previous treatment experiences
Their personal priorities
What they consider a meaningful recovery
This information helps the clinician build a treatment plan that is clinically appropriate and personally relevant.
Supporting Active Participation in Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is most effective when patients are active participants rather than passive recipients of care.
A holistic approach can help patients understand their condition, identify realistic goals and recognise the choices available to them. The therapist’s role is not simply to perform techniques, but also to guide, educate and support the patient throughout the recovery process.
Meaningful goals can make rehabilitation exercises feel less abstract. Instead of exercising only to improve a measurement, the patient understands how each step contributes to a valued activity or life role.
This connection between treatment and purpose can strengthen engagement while respecting the complexity of each person’s situation.
A Broader Conversation About Pain and Recovery
Toni Merhi’s participation in the 25th World Congress reflects Motion Emotion’s commitment to an integrated and person-centred understanding of health.
His presentation will contribute to an international conversation about how logotherapy and holistic care can complement physical rehabilitation. It will highlight the importance of treating the person experiencing pain, not only the symptoms or diagnosis.
By bringing together physical rehabilitation, emotional wellbeing and meaning-centred care, healthcare professionals can create treatment plans that are more human, individualised and connected to the patient’s real life.
About the Presentation
Presentation: Logotherapy and a Holistic Approach in Pain Management and Rehabilitation
Speaker: Toni Merhi
Event: 25th World Congress of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy
Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Time: 2:45 PM to 3:35 PM
Motion Emotion is honoured to see Toni Merhi share this perspective at an international congress dedicated to the continued development and application of Viktor Frankl’s work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is logotherapy?
Logotherapy is a meaning-centred therapeutic approach developed by Viktor Frankl. It helps individuals explore purpose, values, responsibility and the possibilities available to them, including during difficult life circumstances.
Can logotherapy help with chronic pain?
Logotherapy does not replace medical treatment or physical rehabilitation. However, it may complement a broader pain management plan by helping individuals explore how pain has affected their identity, motivation, relationships and sense of meaning.
What is holistic pain management?
Holistic pain management considers the biological, psychological and social factors that may influence a person’s pain experience. It may combine physical rehabilitation, education, emotional support, lifestyle strategies and personally meaningful goals.
Does a holistic approach mean that pain is psychological?
No. A holistic approach recognises pain as a real experience that can be influenced by several interacting factors. It does not dismiss physical causes or suggest that pain is imaginary.
How can meaning support rehabilitation?
Meaning can help connect rehabilitation activities with outcomes that genuinely matter to the patient. These may include returning to work, caring for family, restoring independence or participating in valued activities.
Where is holistic pain management available in Lebanon?
Motion Emotion provides a multidisciplinary and person-centred approach to health and rehabilitation in Lebanon. The team considers physical, emotional and lifestyle factors when developing an individualised care plan.
