Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) for Advanced Cancer Patients

Abstract

This article is based on the opening lecture given at the Second Int. Congress on Logotherapy and Existential Analysis in Vienna 2015. It provides an overview of a novel counseling intervention for patients with advanced cancer, entitled “Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy.” Participants will be introduced to the topics of meaning and spirituality as they relate to the care of cancer patients. The basic concepts of meaning-centered psychotherapy will then be described. Meaning-centered psychotherapy is based on the concepts of meaning as derived from the work of Viktor Frankl and adapted for use in cancer populations by our team at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Two forms of meaning-centered psychotherapy have been developed: meaning-centered group psychotherapy (8-weekly 1.5 h sessions) and individual meaning-centered psychotherapy (7-weekly 1 h session). Both interventions are manualized and several randomized controlled trials have been conducted. The results of these studies will be presented as well. A detailed description of the intervention and the content of each session will be provided. In addition, adaptations of meaning-centered psychotherapy for bereavement, cancer survivors, cancer caregivers, and adolescents with cancer will be described.