1. International Meaning Conference JUly, 2016, Toronto.
Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Cancer Patients Experiential Workshop
William Breitbart, M.D., Chairman
Jimmie C Holland, Chair in Psychiatric Oncology
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, USA

2. Experiential Workshop
Part I: Meaning & Identity
Session #1: Sources of Meaning
Group Experiential Exercise (30 mins)
Session #2: Identity & Cancer
Part II: Attitude & Responsibility
Session #5: Attitudinal Sources of Meaning
Session #6: Creative Sources of Meaning

3. Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy Session Topics & Themes
Session #1: Concepts & Sources of Meaning
Introductions to Intervention & Meaning
Session #2: Cancer & Meaning
Identity – Before & After Cancer Diagnosis
Session #3: Historical Sources of Meaning
Life as a Living Legacy (past-present-future)
Session #4: Historical Sources of Meaning
Session #5: Attitudinal Sources of Meaning
Encountering Life’s Limitations
Session #6: Creative Sources of Meaning
Actively Engaging in Life (via: creativity & responsibility)
Session #7: Experiential Sources of Meaning
Connecting with Life (via: love, beauty & humor)
Session #8: Transitions
Reflections & hopes for future

4. Sources of Meaning: EACH
Experiential Sources – ‘Connecting with Life’
via: relationships, beauty, nature, humor
Attitudinal Sources – ‘Encountering Life’s’ Limitations”
turning personal tragedy into triumph via: the attitude taken toward given circumstances (e.g. physical suffering, personal adversity, one’s mortality)
Creative Sources – ‘Actively Engaging in Life’
via: roles, work, deeds, accomplishments
re: courage, commitment & responsibility
Historical Sources – ‘Life as a Living Legacy’
legacy that’s been given (past)
legacy one lives (present)
legacy one will give (future)

5. Session #1 Concepts and Sources of Meaning: Experiential Exercises
Meaningful Moments
List one or two experiences or moments when life has felt particularly meaningful to you- whether it sounds powerful or mundane. For example, it could be something that helped you through a difficult day, or a time when you felt most alive.

6. Session # 2 Cancer and Meaning: Experiential Exercises
Write down 4 answers to the question, “Who am I?” These can be positive or negative, and include personality characteristics, body image, beliefs, things you do, people you know, etc….For example, answers might start with, “I am someone who___,” or “I am a __ .”
How has cancer affected your answers?

7. Session # 5 Attitudinal Sources of Meaning: Encountering Life’s Limitations
Are you still able to find meaning in your daily life despite the finiteness of life?
Since your diagnosis, have you felt a sense of a loss of meaning in life? That life is not worth living?
What are your thoughts about what is a “good” or “meaningful” death.
How would you like to be remembered?

8. Session # 6 Creative Sources of Meaning: Experiential Exercise
Actively Engaging with Life
Through Creativity & Responsibility
Who are you responsible to and for?
What is your unfinished business?
What tasks have you always wanted to do, but have yet to undertake?