Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Cancer Caregivers: Therapist Manual and Caregiver Workbook

Caregiving is a physically, emotionally, socially, existentially, and financially demanding role that touches most people at some point in their lives. Without support, caregivers are at risk for their own physical and medical problems. Despite being a source of suffering, it at the same time presents an opportunity to connect to meaning and purpose. The authors of this book developed Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Cancer Caregivers (MCP-C), the first targeted therapy to comprehensively address existential distress and suffering in caregivers. Across seven sessions and through a series of didactic and experiential exercises, caregivers are guided to explore various sources of meaning in life that can become resources for them, especially when the challenges of caregiving are great.

In this manual, the reader will find an overview and background on MCP-C, and in-depth descriptions of each of the seven sessions, with sample therapist scripts and handouts for caregivers engaged in MCP-C. It also includes a case example to bring the material to life. The goal of MCP-C is to provide caregivers with the tools needed to live life as fully as possible, despite the many challenges they face. Research on MCP-C with caregivers of patients with various sites and stages of cancer and across the caregiving trajectory supports the underlying mission of MCP-C: suffering is unavoidable but meaning and purpose is always possible.

Allison Applebaum, MD, is Associate Attending Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), and Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is the Founding Director of the Caregivers Clinic at MSK. Dr. Applebaum’s program of research focuses broadly on addressing the psychosocial needs of family caregivers.

William Breitbart, MD, is Chairman, The Jimmie C. Holland Chair in Psychiatric Oncology, and Attending Psychiatrist, in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is recipient of Lifetime Achievement Awards from IPOS, ACLP, APOS, and ACS. Dr. Breitbart’s research focuses on psychiatric aspects of cancer and palliative care. He has over 400 peer reviewed publications, chapters, reviews, and textbooks.