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