Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy Group
Via Teams
Virtual Event
CostFree
Description
Levine Cancer is now offering Meaning Centered Psychotherapy (MCP) group therapy consisting of a total of 8, weekly sessions, each lasting 1 – 1 ½ hours and will be meeting virtually. A screening session with one of the therapists is required and is not a guarantee of entry into the therapy group. The maximum number of participants is 5. Levine Cancer will offer another MCP group in the spring of 2027.
What is Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (MCP)?
Dr. William Breitbart and his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering have created Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for patients facing illness. Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy aims to decrease feelings of sadness and increase hope by teaching patients how to focus on creating, experiencing, and keeping a sense of meaning in life. Their research shows that MCP is very helpful to those who have cancer or are caring for someone with cancer
What will I learn?
• To cope better by finding and creating a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
• How sources of meaning can be used to help you during hard times.
• New ways to face and overcome the challenges caused by your illness.
How does it work?
MCP is meant to help patients look for meaning in their past, present, future and everyday life through teaching, answering questions together, doing homework assignments, and discussions with your therapists. MCP helps patients use meaning in life to gain a greater sense of purpose.
What will we talk about?
Your therapists will talk about the different ways to find meaning such as:
• Why Does Meaning Matter?
• What Are Sources of Meaning?
• Who Are You - Before and After Learning You Have Cancer
• Your Story - Putting the Past, Present and Future Together
• Your Attitude and How It Can Shape Your Cancer Story
• Living More Through Creativity, Courage, and Responsibility
• Connecting with Life through Love, Nature, Art and Humor
• Your Hopes for the Future
Once you have registered, one of our therapists will reach out to you for additional screening to ensure you are a good fit for the group. Completion of the registration form does not guarantee entry into the group. This is a closed group- additional members cannot be added once the 8 weeks begins, but you are encouraged to register to be added to the waitlist for the next group.
Instructors
Kathleen Griffith, MSW, LCSW-A
Kathleen Griffith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate with over 14 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate life's most challenging circumstances. Her professional strengths include case management, crisis intervention, and therapeutic counseling, with specialized experience in grief/loss and caregiver support. Kathleen is committed to providing compassionate, person-centered support and empowering individuals to build resilience during times of change, loss, and uncertainty. Outside of work, Kathleen enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. She can often find herself playing tennis, running, taking walks with her golden retriever, Sunny, and enjoying nature.
Sandra Starnes Gonzalez
Sandra Starnes Gonzalez, MSW, LCSW is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned her Master's degree from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work. She provides psychosocial support to patients affected by cancer, utilizing evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Her professional interests include psychosocial oncology, adjustment to illness, anxiety and depression management, OCD treatment and promoting resilience and well-being throughout the cancer care continuum.