Purpose 🎯
Support meaning-making and adjustment following a significant loss.
Let’s Talk About It 🗣️
Explore how the loss has affected the client’s beliefs, priorities, relationships, identity, or sense of direction.
Ask:
- “What has this loss changed about how you see life, yourself, or others?”
- “What still matters to you?”
- “Have any values become more important?”
- “What is one small action that reflects the direction you want to move in?”
If the Conversation Gets Stuck 💡
Clarify that meaning-making does not mean finding a reason the loss happened. It can mean identifying what matters now, what the client wants to carry forward, or how to live with the loss.
Telehealth / Whiteboard Version 💻
Use a values-based worksheet or shared list with columns for “What changed,” “What still matters,” and “One small step.”
Why This Works 🌱
Meaning-making can help clients reconnect with values, identity, and future-oriented functioning while still honoring the emotional reality of the loss.
Clinical Pearl 🧠
Avoid pressuring the client to find positive meaning in the loss. Meaning-making should be paced according to readiness and should not invalidate pain, anger, confusion, or sadness.
Documentation Language 📝
Client explored changes in meaning, values, identity, and priorities following the loss. Therapist supported values clarification and identification of a realistic values-based action to support adjustment.
Clinical Focus: Meaning-Making, Values Clarification, Adjustment to Loss