Objective(s): Quantitative research on meaning in life in the context of psychotherapy is relatively limited. The current study aims to investigate the profiles of the meaning of clients and their perception of the working alliance and initial symptomatology at the start of therapy.
Design: In a sample of 145 clients (62.1% female; mean age, 34.77) who started person-centered psychotherapy, the relationship between meaning, search for meaning, symptomatology, and the working alliance was analyzed. The assessment took place after the second session.
Results: Cluster analysis revealed four profiles: Low Presence High Search, High Presence Low Search, High Presence High Search, and Low Presence Low Search. These meaning profiles are distinguished in terms of symptomatology but not in terms of the working alliance perception. However, the experience of meaning is significantly associated with the working alliance.
Conclusions: Results show the relevance of meaning-related questions for certain groups of clients at the start of therapy.
Keywords: alliance/therapeutic alliance; meaning; psychotherapy; search for meaning; therapeutic relationship.
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