Imaginative creativity during usage of narrative techniques in logotherapy

Images of literature are sorts of milestones. While learning them every reader develops his personality, by trying situation on himself. Word is the universal tool that is capable of changing psychological functions. Word symbols and images are used in the logotherapy as an effective lever of opening the meaning of the certain situation, special features of person’s individual characteristics, actions. Inside the creations of literature there are reflections of special typical circumstances of life-long way of humans, their reactions in given conditions, their individual singularities that were created and formed under multiple unrepeatable situations.

Basing on these premises, author of the current research has created the program “School of the sense extraction”. It’s purposes are:

– Development of the imaginative capabilities;

– gaining the ability to extract the symbolic sense out of the read book;

– Development of the capability to “stand in heroes shoes” and then – change the situation;

– Embodiment in practice of the skills of imaginative method.

Images, that appear while reading fairy-tales, parables wake to living future images – and if that does not happen, then the text did not touch the reader. One of the main tasks of literature is stimulation of thinking, that, in turn, stimulates and gives birth to own fantasies. Just in that case literature images gain special sense, serving an example, support, feeding the person with special energy.

Fairy-tales, with their peculiar speech, gift reader his own internal imaginary. They help to develop abilities of imaginary, besides, they allow reader to be brought (unobtrusively and in bright minded way) to special conclusions, that are necessary during the therapy. One of the main tasks in this case is to guide the person from fairy-tales imagery and symbols to situations of the real life. That, in turn, helps to make certain decisions, choose ways needed, without discussing the problem directly. During the process of imagination fairy images get deep into the soul causing no resistance, vise versa – gifting opportunities for the further development of the given person and chance to gain the understanding of it’s personal way of life.

In presented research based on examples taken from my personal real practice there is: detail description of the imaginative method usage in narrative techniques; description of ways that help patient to apply dialogue to the person’s inner world; highlightened sequential steps during usage of the imaginative method during narrative techniques.

Term “imaginative techniques” includes following abilities of human being:

1. Imagination (“imagine yourself”)

– Imagination forms images of the final result and actions necessary for it’s achieving;

– Imagination gives opportunity of reprogramming activities and settings;

2. Ability to invent the given situation:

– This capability creates program of behavior in case of uncertainty and complication of the situation.

3. Fantasy (“make up”, “invent”)

– Fantasy creates images, that are appropriate to the person’s aspirations

– Fantasy is the special way of the inner activity, during which the image of desired future is being created

4. Dreams, day-dreaming:

– They comply with the passive way of imagination (unlike the first three points that are the active ways of imaginary). Dreams and day-dreaming create images that cannot be embodied. Dreams substitute the activity, they lead person off the necessity of action. They are not connected to the will that could embody the idea. But, it is necessary to mark the beneficial influence of the passive imaginary in cases when the physical freedom of the person is strictly limited. And here the example of Viktor Frankl shows up to be very bright when he, involved into senseless and exhausting labour had dreams of his wife’s love, feeling this love as power feeding him.

In process of logotherapy using the imaginative techniques it is possible to work over:

a) Imagining the person’s Itself, the way the patient accepts own image, and changing of this image. Purpose of analysis of the personal image is self-understanding, recognition of personal capacities and role in the inter-personal relationships.

b) Images of environment, of the world, that surrounds the person and ability to change these images.

Purpose of creating certain images of the environment is creation of the active life position, belief in ability to be heard to, understood and accepted by society, and in capability to make changes in own life and life of surrounding people. In perfect, the result of implementation of the imaginative techniques should assist into development of creativity and capabilities of person.

During the narrative techniques while analyzing fairy-tales, legends, parables the multi-step imaginary is applied. It is based on active fantasies and contriving. Steps of the multi-step imaginative are:

– perception of the image;

– following the image;

– change of the image;

– change of the plot;

– extraction of the sense.

This way of imaginative techniques is applied under the guidance of the logo-therapist. During the unveiling of the text sense it is possible to apply the technique of the naive questioning.

1) Example from the practice.

Fairy-tale about the forest Nymph (Czech tale)

Once upon a time there lived wealthy peasant. Once in the woods he saw beautiful girl sleeping on the moss. When he approached her girl leaped and wanted to flee. But the peasant grabbed her hand and did not let her go. Examining her dress he realized that he is dealing with the forest Nymph. He liked her so much that he asked whether she would agree to be his wife. Forest Nymph liked the young peasant so she agreed and went to his house. Mother of the peasant was very surprised after she saw who came with her son, but she liked the bride so much that she did not mind for her son to get married on the Nymph.

After the wedding was over wife told to her husband:

– I’ll do everything for you to be happy with me, for you not to ever regret that you’ve married me. But there is only one thing for you never to do – never be angry with me, or I shall leave and you’ll never find me.

Peasant laughed: it was impossible for him to get angry over his wife.

Really, young wife was great housekeeper, everything in their house was perfect, everything was in order – fine on sight! Husband loved his wife, besides, she was behaving perfectly with her mother-in-law. cared of her and obeyed to her in everything. For that old lady loved her as if she would love her own daughter.

Once, before the reaping peasant departed to Prague on business. Every house concern burdened his young wife. On the third day after the peasant’s departure she told workers to reap large field of crop that appeared to be still green. Reapers were surprised thinking of that order as insane. But the young lady insisted, saying that she knew better. She made reapers to reap the green crops and bring it home. Every person in the village just shook their heads in surprise. Next day the peasant returned home. He travelled through the field and saw it reaped. He stopped astonished. Occasionally there was a man from the close-by village and explained that his wife ordered to reap the harvest and bring it home. In sudden rage master started cursing his wife and rushed home. He came and started looking for her but she was gone. And his old mother did not know where the lady was. They both, mother and son, decided that the girl went insane.

Looking for her, peasant ran to the field. Suddenly the sky turned dark and hail started. Master was just happy to find shelter in the shepherd’s hat. And the storm came! Huge hailstones size of a pigeon-egg fell from sky and in half an hour the entire harvest was wiped out.

After the storm peasant left the hat and sadly went back home. He recalled words his wife told him right after the wedding: that she’ll leave if he’ll ever get mad at her, and that he’ll never find her again. And he cursed her so badly for that reaped field! And now he saw that crops would be wiped out anyway. Even if it would not be reaped.

His mother was standing by the gates, watching, whether his son was bringing his wife home. But he said that it was useless to search her.

– You know what I’m going to tell?! – said the old lady. – All the reaped crops in the barn is completely dry and ripe!

That is how it was. Only then the peasant realized that he should not have cursed his wife in rage. But it was too late. he never saw his wife ever again.

* * *

This fairy-tale contains huge amount of images that are typical for human’s life, although covered with fantastic veil. It can be very useful during the family therapy. What should be considered? The perception of fairy-tales has several levels. Moral which is on surface is comprehended immediately. Ant it is great. But it’s just the first step, patient should be stimulated with directing questions to look deeper, fit the situation onto himself, looking for solutions out of situation in own life, making up fantasies on this topic.

Couple that lived together in marriage for 19 years, Natalia and Sergey, asked for help (the wife insisted). Natalia complains that spouse is rude, Sergey says that she is cold with him, that he feels himself useless for them (his wife and son with daughter). They married in strong feelings, first child was born two years after their wedding. Recalling first years of their marriage both say that it was wonderful time. But later everything changed, brightness of life blurred. Love… Where is it? And does it really exist between them?

My first question after reading the tale was:

– What did you just hear?

Husband: Story of a broken promise.

Wife: they gave this promise quite a bit before the marriage…

Me: Did the peasant love his wife?

Both answered: – Certainly!

Me: And the wife, did she love her husband?

Wife: Yes! And she loved him very much! She was good even with mother-in-law. And she took care of the harvest, though nobody understood her that moment.

Husband: If she would love – she wouldn’t leave. Husband might say a lot in bad temper.

Me: Did she leave on her own will?

Husband: Yes! Whose will could have made her do that?! She threatened her spouse once and had to fulfill the threat. Made it principally.

Here ends the first level of tale’s perception. Going further, deepening the perception.

Me: And what if there is something else? What if rudeness was killing her and she was created like that by nature? And she told her husband that not to threaten but to let her spouse know that, in spite of her will, after his rude words she’ll disappear from his life. It was her quality. Anyway, she’s magical forest creature. Not a regular woman.

Wife: So you can be rude with regular woman…

Husband: Usual woman will not threaten to disappear if she’s cursed at.

Me: Sergey, when you fell in love with Natalia, did she seem to be regular? One of millions?

Husband: Of course no! It was… magic! Yes! Like that fellow with forest Nymph. I was thinking only about her.

Me: And you, Natalia, when Sergey told you about his love, could you imagine that he is going to be rude with you? That he will be insulting and humiliating you?

Wife: Of course no! Otherwise I would prefer to die, rather then living up to that. And I would not believe if somebody would have predicted this.

Me: (addressing husband) Didn’t your wife seem to be the magical Nymph to you while you were in love?

Husband nods agreeing. She did.

Me: So, what happened then?

Husband: But she stayed with me!

Me: Nymph stayed?

Wife: Nymph is gone long ago! There is only the woman left.

Me: Did it dement on Nymph whether to stay or to leave?

Wife: Nymph flee away without looking behind. Nymphs cannot bear such an attitude.

Husband: So, nothing can be returned? That is it?

Me: Who is stronger – real woman or the Nymph? And if the Nymph is magical, so, it is possible to resurrect everything?

Wife: We, women, are stronger. We can forgive and tolerate…

Husband: And can the Nymph be resurrected?

Me: And what do you think yourself?

And then there appeared alive and interesting conversation about “plan of the Nymph resurrection”. And by the end of the session the husband said that this fairy-tale should be read to every couple that is about to get married. Mandatory.

Me: Can it be possibly too late while people are together and they still can talk to each other?

* * *

2) Example from practice.

Fairytale: “How good it is that there is Death on Earth”

In those far times while Lord Jesus Christ and the Saint Peter were walking together, once they came to the blacksmith and asked for overnight stay. The blacksmith greeted them with hospitality, put under the anvil his hammer which he had in his hand, walked them to the dining room and made great supper. And after the meal he told to his guests:

I see that you are very tired after the long road and you wish to have rest – besides it was so hot all day long – so, please, accommodate on my bed, have a good sleep. And I’ll have a nap in the barn on a straw pile.

He wished them good night and went for a sleep. And when the morning came he made them breakfast and walked with them for a bit. When they were saying “goodbye” he said:

I hope that you are satisfied with everything.

Then Saint Peter pulled Lord Jesus for His sleeve:

Lord! Aren’t You going to award him? Since he is such a good person and treated us so well?

And the Lord answered:

Award in this world is an empty gift. So I prepare the different one for him, in Heavens.

And then Jesus turned to the blacksmith and spoke:

Ask for anything. Three wishes will be granted.

Blacksmith rejoiced and spoke:

If it is so, God, make me live and stay healthy like I am now for another hundred years.

And Jesus said:

Let your wish come true. What else do you want?

Blacksmith laughed and said:

What else am I to ask? Everything else is fine in my life and I can earn for anything I want with my skill. Just make sure that I’ll always have enough work. Like it is now.

And the Lord replied:

And this will come true. What about your third wish?

Decent fellow, the blacksmith did not even know what to wish, but after a minute’s thinking he said:

If such a kind Lord you are, then make for anybody to sit on the chair you were sitting before my table to freeze to it and stay like that until I’ll let him go.

Saint Peter started laughing, but the Lord replied:

Let it be as you wished!

So, they departed. Lord Jesus and Saint Peter went their way and the blacksmith rushed home happily. And everything appeared to be as the Lord Jesus promised. All the neighbors of the blacksmith were gone long ago and he still was healthy and fresh, had plenty of work and was singing in happiness from morning till night.

But everything has an end. Hundred years finally were gone and the Death knocked his doors.

Who is it? – asked the blacksmith.

It’s me, Death. I came after you.

– So welcome! What a guest came! – said the blacksmith and smiled slyly. – Come in, dear guest! Just wait for a minute, let me put off hammer and pliers in order and I’ll be just ready. And you can have a seat for now on that chair. Anyway you walk quite a lot around the world!

The Death had nothing to worry about so It didn’t have to ask twice. She took a sit and the blacksmith laughed loudly:

Now you to seat here until I’ll decide to let you go!

The Death started to try to set itself free, knocking It’s bare bones and jaws, but nothing helped, It could not move off the chair, so It had to remain on the chair like chained. Blacksmith laughed his stomach off! He closed doors and left for his businesses. He was glad that he does not have to fear of Death for It was in his house, captured.

But his happiness did not last long, he quickly noticed that he was mistaking.

He had a bery fed pig, so he decided to butch it and make smoked ham, because he really liked to have this fine dish. So he took an axe and hit the pig so hard that he fell down himself. Then he reached for a knife to slit the throat of a pig and gather it’s blood to make sausage pig suddenly raised on it’s feet and leaped away.

I’ll get you later, you naughty pig! – said the blacksmith and went to the barn and pulled the goose out. He has been feeding it for two weeks for holiday. – At least I’ll enjoy you for today. – Said he to himself. – Since the sausage ran away.

He grabbed a knife and tried to stab the goose. But what a miracle! Not a single drop of blood fell of the goose, and when he pulled the knife out of it’s neck there was no trace of wound! While the blacksmith fell into astonishment goose has slept away and screaming “ga-ga-ga” flew after the pig.

The blacksmith was fed up with everything. Everything started so good today and he cannot even snack something tasty?! So, he left the goose and the pig and went to the dovecote and grabbed two pigeons. And in order to avoid strange occasions for this time he chopped birds’ heads right away. With one blow.

At least it’s enough for two of you, – mumbled the blacksmith and tossed birds on the ground.

But have a look! As soon as they fell on the ground their heads appeared on their necks and “frrrr” they flew away! All of a sudden the blacksmith realized:

That’s right! I didn’t think about it. They all cannot die because I captured the Death!

And all those thoughts started moving in his head and he didn’t like that he’ll have to farewell to the wonderful ham and sausages, with delicious baked goose and roasted pigeons. But what should he do?! Let the Death go? No way! Death would break his own neck right away! And so he decided that he’ll eat peas and porridge and cook pies instead of meat: it is tasty enough if there is nothing else!

Everything went well while he had old storages. But then the spring came and he fell into poverty! Every living creature that lived before stayed alive and not a single one died. Besides, a lot of new ones appeared so the entire world was packed.

Birds, mice, grasshoppers, bugs and all other creatures ate and destroyed all the crops on the fields, meadows looked burned, trees in gardens were like brushes, leaves and flowers were eaten by caterpillars – and none of them could be killed! Lakes and rivers contained so many fishes, frogs, water spiders and other insects that water stunk and was no good for drinking anymore. Air was full of mosquitoes and flies, and soil was covered with so many ugly insects that they could’ve killed any human. If any one could die. People were walking neither dead, nor alive, like shadows.

The blacksmith say what has he done with his reckless idea and so he said:

God made it great that there is Death on Earth!

So he went towards her, let her go and It killed him right away.

And everything went back as it is supposed to be.

* * *

As the practice shows, working through this tale helps to come to inevitability of death and it’s acceptance.

During exercises one of the participants (Larisa) said that her main problem was fear. Thoughts of death were bringing her to the conclusion of senselessness of life and paralyzed her. Just as the tale’s main character she deprived death ability to act miraculously. In our imagination we lived through the consequences of “Death’s capture”. Larisa added her fantasies to this fairy-tale. It appeared that everything lost it’s sense: medicine, sciences, art and love. Everything lost it’s colour. And after that we started to think about the sense of death. Since life and death are parts of one system, parts of the world that we live in. During the process of thinking Larisa has named senses of death: renewal and source of life. Conclusion: life becomes full and intensive, precious and bright because of understanding of the death’s inevitability.

But does it mean that we have to give up to death, yield to it your own life without a fight and struggle? And here the character of the blacksmith is very helpful, which, loving of his life, fought for it using any possible trick.

Here are the questions that were used during the group session:

Can we say about the character of the tale that he did in his life everything he could?

How could we describe the blacksmith? (hospitable, hard-working, honest, sly, life-loving, active, etc).

If there were no death (or, the death would be captured like in the fairy-tale) – would life still remain?

Is life senseless because it’s not eternal?

Can we make conclusion that life and death are two parts of one entity?

If there is no death will the new life appear? Will new children be born? Will it has any sense? And, in accordance, will there be love?

The blacksmith – true lover of the life in all his characteristics and personality. Why did le let the Death go? Because of humility or because of love to life?

What is the power of the main character?

And as a conclusion (and, partly – thoughts of the power of the character I can quote the words of V. Pozner about the “Flying over the cuckoo’s nest”. He was astonished by a piece where the Nicholson’s character told other patients of the mental hospital that he is going to rip the stone sink off the floor. It didn’t work out. But he exclaimed: “At least I’ve tried!”. Pozner comments if like that: “Suddenly I realized that it is the main sense of life! We cannot say that “it’s not going to work out”. You just have to try, it’s the only thing worth living for”.

Our blacksmith at least had his try.

Finally, working over the fairy-tale Larisa noticed that thoughts about death stopped to paralyze and scare her. New thoughts appeared: of how to use the time-being the best way.

3) Example of practice.

Fairy-tales, legends, myths and parables bear many senses. And, often, the most important, hidden into the metaphor is hardest to find. The patient who hears the story relaxes while falling into the search, leaves anxiety, calms, thinking that he goes away from his problem. So, the action is even more effective of the found sense. In this meaning the plot of Euripides tragedy “Medea” is very indicative.

Medea

Jason, the hero of the Ancient Greece, raised by the Centaur went to find the Golden fleece which was in a possession of king Aeetes. Jason would never get the fleece if not the help of Medea. She was the daughter of Aeetes. When Jason came to the palace of the king, invisible and naughty god of love Aetot hid behind his back and shot the golden arrow into the heart of Medea. So she fell in love with the stranger. And, besides, Medea was a sorcerer.

Father of Medea had a condition on which he would have given the Golden fleece to Jason. It was impossible to fulfill: to plow the field of Ares – god of war, with the iron plow of the king, and to harness fire-breathing axes with copper legs. Secondly, he had to take dragon teeth and sow them in the field he had ploughed. And when the armored warriors will grow out of these teeth, Jason had to fight and kill every one of them. Medea, who fell in love with Jason, helped him to achieve victory in these tasks. She knew that she was betraying her own father, she experienced terrible visions but could do nothing because of love. So she helped Jason with her magic that made him invincible. Jason was touched with her love and fell in love to her in turn. Finally Jason abducted the Golden fleece and flee away with Medea. He married her and gave oath of fidelity. Many challenges and troubles Medea had to live through in foreign land: without her homeland and family, bearing the guilt upon her shoulders. But she tolerated everything, loving her husband. She gave birth to two sons of Jason.

Time was changing. Jason got bored and fell in love with the daughter of king Kreont, who blessed the marriage of his child and the hero. When Medea knew about this betrayal she fell into despair. She fell into wrath. Her spirit was unchained, she could not subdue herself. So the woman turned into the creature obsessed with evil spirits, thirst of revenge.

Jason came to Medea and started to assure her that he is going to marry king’s daughter for the sake of Medea and their children. Since they are sons of foreign woman with bad reputation marriage of their father on king’s daughter will make their status in society much firmer. Medea pretended that she did subdue. She’s sent bride the poisoned dress and crown as sign of her subdue. But the crown and dress has eaten her rival alive. King, who tried to rescue his daughter, died poisoned, too.

But Medea’s anger is unstoppable. She also kills her own children. She has two reasons to do that. She knows that loyal kings servants will revenge them. And, besides, she desires her revenge to Jason to be complete. She flies away on the golden chariot of God Heliot with the bodies of her children. It is useless for Jason to beg, asking to return bodies of his sons for at least to bury them and cry on their graves. Medea is not a woman any longer. She is the spirit of evil. And evil spirits do not credit to human tears.

* * *

Irina L., 29 years old, mother of the two-week old baby, addressed with the following problem. She did not want to mark father of the child in the birth certificate. She never got married on him. He made proposals and firstly she liked him, but after she got pregnant, Irina started to feel disgust at him, noticing more and more disadvantages in the father of the about-to-be baby. She says that the father does not earn enough money, so he cannot give anything to her and the baby. Irina, herself, was raised by the mother alone, so she says that her mother raised her perfectly and gave her good education. So – she will raise her son by herself. Besides, she did not want anybody else to influence her son. She did not want to share her son with anybody else. Why should she ask an alien man permission if she decides to go travelling? (Alien man is the father of the baby). She came for help because she wanted to calm down because she has fierce deep in her heart. When we started to look through details of the conflict, we did not find any single fact against the father of the child (he actually tried to help, took her to doctor, gave money regularly (about half of his own salary) never humiliated her, neither with word, nor with deeds). But she could not stop her anger towards him. And did not understand what is father needed for. Since she had no experience of the fatherhood herself, so every male for her is useless. All her prior relations with men ended by separation and every time she initiated it. Though she always had something to blame every prior partner.

Irina listened to the myth of Medea not understanding why did we start talking about the Ancient Greece.

Me: How do you think, what is this story about?

Irina: It is about betrayal.

Me: And who betrayed whom?

Irina: Husband betrayed Medea. He should have helped her more. (Irina is not paying attention to the fact that in first place Medea has betrayed her own father. This part of the plot is closed for her).

Me: So, Medea did everything correct and then became an innocent victim? Am I right?

Irina: Well… yes. She did everything for her husband. Helped him to get the fleece. Gave birth to children. Did not cheat on him.

Me: Nice and decent lady, deserving sympathy.

Irina: Yes.

Me: And she never harmed anyone, never let anyone down…

Irina: No… but – later, of course… But he’s made her do that…

We have to return to the beginning of the story to see what wrong did Medea to her own father.

Me: So, it appears that Medea could betray and Jason was not supposed to?

Irina: But the Jason was her husband. He cheated… She gave birth to children and before that helped to get the fleece… and he’s betrayed her.

Me: What if he just took her example? Saw how easily she betrayed her father and decided that nothing bad will happen to her. That betrayal is all right for these people.

Irina starts thinking. She is struck with the brand new discovery. Rightness of the women always was on first place for her.

Me: and how did you like Medea’s retaliation to Jason’s betrayal?

Irina: Well, this is a real nightmare. Why did she kill her children? All right with king’s daughter, then Jason himself. And then she could run away with children!

Me: So, somebody had to be killed anyway? Somebody, just not the children?

Irina: But he was humiliating her! Cheated on her! But in the end everything went terrible. No, nobody should’ve been killed

Me: So, why did she kill children? Children, but not the Jason?

Irina: She wanted the most terrible way of revenge. For him to live and suffer.

Me: Do you remember for what the Jason begged in the end? When the children were dead already?

Irina: Yes. He begged to leave him the bodies to bury them and then cry on theig graves.

Me: And Medea?…

Irina: It’s so terrible! She did not give him the bodies.

Me: But she had her 100 % revenge! And left him alive to…

Irina:… live live and… remember and suffer.

Me: Did it look like a smart move?

Irina: Well, I would not kill children. I would just leave him and that’s it. And leave him alone…

Me: How do you think, does this story has anything to do to you?

Irina: I am not going to kill anybody! And I was not betrayed by the way.

I offered Irina to think over the metaphoric sense of the episode with children slaughter. Murder is not just taking somebody’s life. In metaphoric sense – killing is leaving man without sense of life, leave the man without faith to people, to love.

Me: let us try to imagine everything as metaphor. Mother leaves with children. They will never see their father again. And the father will never see his children. So – she kills father for children, and children for father. Living with only one parent leaves child without something very important. For the rest of the life person is deprived. Because child needs both mother’s and father’s forces. And who is mother to become the judge and charge with death penalty? Does she have right to do that?

So goes the conversation that extracts the sense out of this plot. Figuratively the entire process of the dialogue can be imagined as separation of cabbage leaves out of the head. One by one, every one is different, closer and closer to the middle. Attention concentrates on the leave (plot’s branch) that is needed in the context of the given situation.

During the next session Irina is supposed to live through the plot of Medea herself. Here she is – daughter of the king, sorcerer. She sees Jason. Love on the first sight. She, guided by the power of love has to help Jason to gain the fleece and escape with it. Irina turns into the process of imagination. She completely submerges into the plot, sits with her eyes closed. When the story comes to the love on the first sight smile appears on her face. But when it comes on helping the Jason by betraying own father she opens her eyes and refuses to do that! She motivates that she, of course, is in love, but her father is more important for her. And who knows how long this love is going to last. And why she should escape her native land where she is in power. She refuses to submerge into this plot, knowing that she will be betrayed after her own betrayal. So, the entire sense of her love to Jason will be betrayed.

I ask: Does it mean that the plot of “Medea” contains two guilty persons? Two traitors?

Irina: Yes!

Me: Are mothers who forbid their children to contact their fathers completely open and honest to their children? Can you judge without hearing the other side?

My purpose was to induce Irina not to ban the father of her child in his fatherhood. But, as the result, she suddenly showed her wish to find her own father and talk to him. She wanted to understand the person who was described to her as a traitor by her own mother. As a man, they were better off.

Irina insisted her mother to tell her the name of her father. After the harsh conversation and rough commentaries of her mother, etc. Nevertheless, Irina learned everything she wanted. And immediately found him in social networks. She recognized her father on the first sight – they looked very much alike. They’ve met and father told her circumstances of that old conflict with her mother. In details of that quarrel Irina recognized her own behavior to the father of her child. And, what is very important, she started understanding how much she has lost herself, left without her father. Part of her soul all this time was frozen. And only then she understood the metaphor “killing the child”.

Final of our work: Irina tried to make peace to the father of the child, wrote his name into the birth certificate. Allowed him to see the son. She would not even mind to marry him. But now the young man does not hurry up with proposal.

Usage of the imaginative techniques in logotherapy during work with images of fairy-tales, legends, parables we can highlight following steps:

1. Learning the main plot of the fairy-tale.

2. Discussion of the plot.

3. Creation of the heroes image (thorough discussion of his personality and analysis of his actions).

4. Living into the character’s image.

5. Shift into the space of the fairy-tale. “Me” in the space of the story.

6. Search for the plot’s points where something can be changed.

7. New variations of the story.

8. Choice and living through the own variation.

9. Creation of conclusions and definition of own line of behavior (from the space the story to reality).