Purpose: Setting meaningful goals for the rehabilitation process after acute illness is essential for rehabilitees recovery. The aim of this study was to understand the meanings of the goal setting situation with professionals from rehabilitees point of view. - Method: We included 20 acute stroke and back pain rehabilitees (mean age 66 y) who set goals with a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. Data was collected by interviewing the rehabilitees after the goal setting situations. A qualitative analysis from a phenomenological perspective using Spiegelberg’s seven-phase meaning analysis was performed to reveal meanings. - Results: The five meanings were identified as: (i) “trust in the rehabilitation situation, professionals, oneself, and relatives;” (ii) “respectful presence;” (iii) “confusing awareness;” (iv) “disturbing pain;” and (v) “fear of unpredictability.” When professionals committed to working in a patient-centred manner, the rehabilitees felt respected and they trusted professionals and thus their self-efficacy was empowered. Moreover, relatives were an important support in the situation. However, disturbing pain and fear of the future limited patients level of participation in the situation. - Conclusion: Rehabilitee commitment to rehabilitation can be supported with equality in communication and presence of relatives, while pain and uncertainty because of changed health limit participation in a goal setting situation.