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The meaning of love and the meaning of mutual sacrifice are interwoven into the tapestry of life. Sometimes a blog with few words is all that is required to convey a simple, beautiful, and essential message. This is one such example.

A handwritten note can feel revealing. Some pages look tense, some relaxed, some careful, some rushed. It is easy to imagine that the shape of letters, the pressure of a pen, or the space between words might expose something deeper about the writer. That idea sits at the centre of graphology, the practice of interpreting personality from handwriting. For more than a century, graphologists have claimed that handwriting can reveal traits such as confidence, emotional control, h

One of the most crushing feelings we can be confronted with is the realisation that we never really mattered to someone we viewed as significant. That they did not remember the things that were important to us, or the details of our lives that we shared; that they never listened to the words that came from the depths of our hearts and found a resting place within our souls. Of course that hurts. But think of it this way: It is a prescient reminder that we really do matter to

By Somayeh McKian Certified Psychotherapist, Logotherapist & Existential Analyst-in-Training, Gender Studies Scholar, & Published Author In my earlier reflections, I explored how writing acts as an archaeological tool to excavate meaning from our lives, and how the human spirit—the Noetic dimension—maintains its ultimate purpose regardless of the physical vessel or linguistic terrain it inhabits. I viewed the human condition as a manuscript waiting to be authored. Yet, when

Today I was delighted to approve Vedrana Grgic's thesis titled 'An Analytical Autoethnographic Study of Work with Recently Qualified Logotherapists in Wartime Conditions'. She has met all of the requirements for the award of the 'Diploma in Logotherapy & Existential Analysis Clinical Supervision' at the Viktor Frankl Centre Northern Ireland. Vedrana is a Teacher, Mentor and Supervisor Logotherapist and Existential Analyst at Viktor Frankl Ukrainian Institut and MeaningsLab. S

I am delighted to announce that the last of our Viktor Frankl Centre NI's 2006 Summer Seminar Series will be on 'The Meaning of Love'. Together with my colleague Logotherapist & Existential Analyst, Paul Brennan, we will be exploring the insights of Viktor Frankl (Psychiatrist and Founder of The Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy) and Erich Fromm (Social Psychologist and Psychoanalyst). Places are limited and advance booking is required. To book your place, you can either

Defiant Creativity: Writing the Body into Meaning By Somayeh McKian Certified Psychotherapist, In-Training Logotherapist, Gender Studies Scholar, & Published Author In my first two reflections for my Logotherapy training and supervision, I explored how writing serves as an archaeological tool to excavate meaning, and how the human spirit, the Noetic dimension, retains its ultimate purpose regardless of the language or accent it speaks. But existential excavation does not ha

I have been writing 'letters to my sons' for quite some time now. Written in pen and ink they address 'life issues' that are relevant to their journey, and indeed to other young men who may struggle at times to engage with their emotions. The actual letters are much more personal than the versions I share on this blog, but I hope you find them useful just the same. 'Dear Sons, As your lives evolve, you will find yourself asking the most painful of questions: ‘why am I not goo

The Viktor Frankl Centre Northern Ireland Summer Seminar Series is all about offering insights into some of the common questions asked of Psychotherapists. Dr. Viktor Frankl was a Psychiatrist and Holocaust Survivor who founded the Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy: Logotherapy & Existential Analysis. Logotherapy is based on the premise that people are primarily motivated by the search for meaning in their lives and experiences. The speaker in this series is Dr. Scott Pe

The Biography in the 'About Me' page is a shortened version. This one is more detailed and I will be updating it periodically as my work and the services I offer changes. I hope it is useful; any queries, please do let me know. Scott Peddie is the first accredited Logotherapist and Existential Analyst based in Northern Ireland. He trained in Dublin and operates a private practice which began in Belfast, but is now solely online, and has/had clients from a wide range of locati

Forgiveness is a deeply personal and complex facet of human behaviour that is often understood in a religious context. Yet it transcends the faith dimension and speaks to our very sense of humanity and connection. The Holocaust Survivor, Psychiatrist, and Founder of the Third Viennese School of Psychotherapy (Logotherapy & Existential Analysis), Viktor Frankl opined in his seminal work, 'Man's Search for Meaning': 'Each of us has his own inner concentration camp... we must de

There is one passage from the Old Testament that people attending Christian funerals, and to a lesser extent, weddings, will be familiar with - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. At those most meaningful of transitions, whether from life to death, or the coming together of two unique souls in and through love, the writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is indeed a time for everything. Our lives are in constant flux. There is no other way. Imagine a life without the unbearable lows o

I was reminded today of a phenomenon that is rare in this life: meeting a person that takes our breath away: those who we recognise instantly as 'special' or unique in their constellation of character traits. It can be rather difficult to articulate what we find so alluring, perhaps because our response initially emanates from our unconscious minds; the conscious component takes on its own life and dynamic thereafter, where nuance and insight coalesce. But what is it we are

I am so grateful to Somayeh for her second guest blog on the topic of finding meaning through story-telling, writing, and listening. As a Certified Psychotherapist, Logotherapist-In-Training and published Novelist, she has a unique insight into this fascianting aspect of life; it is further enriched by her linguistic diversity - her native Farsi, fluency in English, and now learning German. In this beautifully written article, Somayeh brings to life the creative reality and

The study of our dreams offers a rich tapestry of insights into the human psyche and spirit. Whether we approach dreams through Freudian symbolism, Jungian archetypes, or Frankl's existential lens, the exploration of dream psychology can lead to profound discoveries about ourselves and our place in the world. By embracing the mystery and magic of our dreams, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. Interested to find out more? Join me on this free

Occasionally I post an insight/quote on this blog without any commentary, mainly because I think it speaks for itself. With that in mind, I shall leave you with an excerpt from Chloe Frayne's 'The Gravity Inside Us: Poetry and Prose': “I want to tell you a story about bravery. I want you to forget every over-romanticized notion you’ve ever heard about fearlessness; replace it with the idea that bravery is not an absence of fear but a rebellion against it. That it’s taking the

Scott Peddie is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Understanding Narcissism Seminar Time: Jun 28, 2026 07:00 PM London Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81833385202?pwd=8OnOmSacs7B8gojECD1cBc8r7Po0pG.1 Meeting chat link https://us02web.zoom.us/launch/jc/81833385202 Meeting ID: 818 3338 5202 Passcode: 982954 --- One tap mobile +16469313860,,81833385202#,,,,*982954# US +16694449171,,81833385202#,,,,*982954# US --- Join by SIP • 81833385202@zoomcrc.com Jo

My colleague Somayeh McKian, an Iranian Psychotherapist, award winning Novelist, and Logotherapist-In-Training at the Viktor Frankl Centre Northern Ireland, will be publishing a series of articles exploring her connection with meaning. Starting today, these reflections will be published on this blog, and social media. Here are Somayeh's opening thoughts, with my own: 'Logotherapy supervision sessions with Scott have been among the most rewarding experiences of my decade-long

An Existential sadness is a manifestation of negative life circumstances. We might find ourselves in a job we dislike, or missing a family member we no longer see. There may be an extended period of unemployment, or a relationship that has broken down. We express our sadness in different ways. Telling others that we are 'fed up' is one of those ways of articulating our sense of weariness. Often it manifests as an unspecific malaise, but it can also be a result of an unresolve

Self-sabotage is a common but often misunderstood behavior that can quietly undermine your goals and happiness. You might find yourself procrastinating, doubting your abilities, or making choices that seem to block your own success. These actions can feel confusing or frustrating, especially when you want to move forward but keep hitting invisible barriers. Understanding why self-sabotage happens and learning how to address it can open the door to personal growth and better o