Psychotherapeutic Experience of Shaping a Meaningful Future in an Oncology Patient Using Metaphoric Associative Cards (A Clinical Case Study)

Relevance. Oncological diseases significantly alter an individual’s perception of their life, generating uncertainty regarding the meaning and direction of their future. Cognitive-behavioral therapy remains the most commonly applied method of psychological support for oncology patients. However, psychotherapeutic work aimed at addressing the problem of constructing a meaningful future in cancer patients represents a promising and relevant direction in psychotherapy.

Aim: To facilitate the formation of a meaningful future in an oncology patient through the use of metaphoric associative cards.

Materials and methods. This study presents a clinical case of a female patient undergoing outpatient oncological treatment for breast cancer. The psychotherapeutic intervention was carried out using metaphorical associative cards, namely “The World of My Possibilities”, “The Joys of Everyday Life”, and “Small Happiness”, alongside the application of authorial techniques such as “Life Values”, “My Meaning of Life”, and “Internal and External Supports/Resources”.

Results. As a result of the intervention, the patient identified the following personal values: work, family, carefreeness, and harmony with oneself. During the therapeutic process, these values were transformed, with harmony with oneself emerging as the most significant, followed by family and work. The patient identified her family as the primary source of meaning in her future life. Resources were defined as contact with nature, creativity, and friendships.

Conclusion. The metaphorical associative cards demonstrated their effectiveness in supporting the process of shaping a meaningful future in a patient with breast cancer.