ABSTRACT
Historically, the focus of intervention has been that older adults benefit greatly from reconciling their past, specifically focusing on any regrets. This Life Review, resulting in reconciliation of the past, would lead them to a place of integrity, as opposed to despair, in old age. However, it is the authors experience in working with clients that older adults are not eager to review their life history. Dr. Robert Butler, psychiatrist and gerontologist, viewed aging adults as being naturally inclined to reminisce over their past; he is credited with creating Life Review therapy, which is a process for clinicians to facilitate the older client’s navigation of the past. Life Review therapy became one of the prominent interventions used with older adults. Practicing mindfulness with the client instead of talking at the client creates meaningful and fulfilling use of present time. Joan knew her problems were associated with age and could not be solved.
