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Exploring meaning in life with the Sources of Meaning Card Method. A two-day course with Tatjana Schnell and Peter la Cour.
Today’s world sees a growing interest in the question of meaning in life. Increasingly, people suffer from experiences of meaninglessness in life or in particular areas thereof, as e.g. in work. At the same time research shows that meaningfulness is associated with health, well-being, social inclusion and engagement.
The purpose of this two days seminar is to explore how meaning in life can be understood and unfolded, by using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Meaning in life is considered a multidimensional model, covering experiences of meaning in life (meaningfulness, crisis of meaning, existential indifference) and sources of meaning. All dimensions will be illustrated with references to contemporary life. Relationships with personality (the Big Five) will be discussed. There will be possibilities for self-exploration.
On the second day, we will focus on the “Sources of Meaning Card Method” (SoMe CaM), a method for identifying and exploring personal sources of meaning within a one-hour session. The SoMe CaM has been clinically validated for patients with chronic pain. It is being used in many different countries, in as diverse settings such as therapy, counseling, coaching, pastoral care, palliative care and staff development. Participants will learn about the method’s background, application and interpretation, and have the chance to exercise.
Program
Day 1
Researching Meaning
10.15 – 11.00 What is meaning? Definitions, development, predictors (T. Schnell)
11.10 – 12.00
12.00-13.00 LUNCH
13.00 – 13.45 Crises of meaning (T. Schnell)
13.55 – 14.40 Existential indifference (T. Schnell)
15.00 – 15.40 Ways of enabling and exploring meaning (T. Schnell)
15.50 – 16.50 The four-dimensional model of health. Introducing the concept of existential health (Peter la Cour)
16.50 – 17.00 Summing up (P. la Cour & T. Schnell)
Day 2
Identifying and Exploring Sources of Meaning: The Sources of Meaning Card Method
10.15 – 11.00 The clinical challenge of existential talks (P. la Cour)
11.10 – 11.40 The sources of meaning in lived experience (T. Schnell)
11.40-12.40 LUNCH
12.40 – 13.40 The development of the SoMCaM card method, Norwegian version (P. la Cour)
13.40 – 15.10 Exercise (with coffee): Trying out the SoMCaM (P. la Cour)
15.10 – 15.40 Supervision and feedback on the method (P. la Cour)
15.40 – 16.00 Evaluation, final questions, summing up (P. la Cour & T. Schnell)
Dr. Tatjana Schnell is professor of Existential Psychology at MF vitenskapelig høyskole, Oslo and professor II at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, where she established the Existential Psychology Lab. She works on existential issues such as meaning in life, suffering, and religious/spiritual/secular worldviews and their practical significance for individuals, organisations, society and the environment. Former co-editor for the Journal of Happiness Studies; numerous international publications, collaborations, functions, talks. Latest book: "The Psychology of Meaning in Life" (Routledge, 2021)
Dr. Peter la Cour is Danish, professor adjunct in psychology of religion at MF vitenskapelig høyskole, and authorized specialist in health psychology. He has worked clinically with integration of existential themes in client relations for long. His current interest concerns the introduction of the term existential health in modern health thinking and application of existential perspectives into modern understanding of health and healthcare. Book in preparation: “Introducing existential health: A four-dimensional model for integrated health understanding» (publ. Early 2025)