The aim was to understand the processes of therapeutic changes in Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP) in a Portuguese sample.

Adult cancer patients with distress motivated to participate in MCGP were identified; descriptive and narrative analyses were performed on the session content.

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.”

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.