| Abstract: |
The aim was to understand the processes of therapeutic changes in Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP) in a Portuguese sample.Method Adult cancer patients with distress motivated to participate in MCGP were identified; descriptive and narrative analyses were performed on the session content.Results The sample had 24 participants (mean age: 63.43 years); the majority were females (75%), with a median academic degree (54%). Breast cancer was most frequent (67%) at the localized stage (71%). The narrative analysis defined seven categories according to the MCGP themes. In Moments with Meaning (MwM), the most relevant dimensions were related to interpersonal relations, the moment of diagnosis, and personal achievements. This category established relations with almost all other categories, as did the category historical sources of meaning (SoM). The category identity before and after cancer diagnosis was only related to attitudinal SoM and transitions. Historical SoM had two dimensions, past and present and future legacies, in which prominent topics related to family, childhood, achieved goals, and values to pass to others explored. Attitudinal SoM established relations only with the category creative SoM, in which courage and responsibility were the main dimensions, which were also related to MwM, historical, and attitudinal SoM. Experiential SoM, with the main dimension love, was related to MwM and historical SoM. Transitions only established relations with historical SoM and identity before and after cancer.Significance of results The findings that MwM and historical SoM were the categories which established a solid pattern of relations suggest that these are the main psychotherapy topics that can have more influence for the participants; one explanation is that these categories imply a concrete way of thinking, which is easier to understand. This process of therapeutic changes must be integrated in a cultural context, as it is well known to have an impact upon the meaning of life. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020. |
