A Sense of Closure in Life: The Role of Reminiscence Therapy

Introduction
The quest for a sense of closure is a deeply human experience, often pivotal in our emotional and psychological well-being.[1] Closure[2] involves resolving past experiences, making peace with one’s life story, and finding meaning in our journey. Reminiscence Therapy, a therapeutic technique that encourages reflection on past experiences, plays a significant role in helping individuals achieve this sense of closure. This article explores how reminiscence therapy facilitates closure, its benefits, and its applications in various therapeutic contexts.

Understanding Closure and Reminiscence Therapy
The Concept of Closure
Closure refers to the emotional resolution of past experiences, allowing individuals to find peace and understanding. It involves:

1. Acknowledging and Processing: Recognizing and working through past events and emotions.
2. Finding Meaning: Making sense of life experiences and their impact on one’s current self.
3. Achieving Reconciliation: Resolving any lingering feelings or unresolved issues from the past.

Reminiscence Therapy
Reminiscence Therapy[3] involves reflecting on past experiences, often guided by prompts such as photographs, music, or personal objects. The therapy can be conducted individually or in groups and aims to:

1. Stimulate Memory: Encourage the recall of personal memories and experiences.
2. Foster Connection: Provide a platform for sharing stories and connecting with others.
3. Facilitate Reflection: Help individuals integrate past experiences into their present lives.

How Reminiscence Therapy Facilitates Closure
Processing Emotions and Experiences
Reminiscence Therapy provides a structured environment for individuals to revisit and process their past experiences.[4] By reflecting on significant life events, individuals can acknowledge unresolved emotions and gain insight into their life’s journey. This process helps individuals confront and work through past issues, contributing to a sense of emotional closure.

Research in The Journal of Gerontological Nursing shows that reminiscing about positive experiences can help individuals achieve emotional resolution and improve overall life satisfaction (Wang et al., 2015). By revisiting and reflecting on these moments, individuals can find meaning and closure.

Creating a Coherent Life Narrative
A central component of reminiscence therapy is constructing a coherent life narrative[5]. This involves integrating various life experiences into a unified story, which helps individuals understand and make sense of their life journey. This narrative construction provides a sense of continuity and coherence, facilitating closure by allowing individuals to view their lives as a meaningful whole.

According to a study published in Ageing Research Reviews, creating a coherent life narrative through reminiscence therapy can enhance self-identity and contribute to a greater sense of closure (Woods et al., 2018).

Reconciliation and Forgiveness
Reminiscence Therapy can also play a role in reconciliation and forgiveness.[6] By reflecting on past relationships and experiences, individuals can address unresolved conflicts and seek forgiveness or reconciliation. This process helps to alleviate feelings of guilt, regret, or resentment, contributing to emotional closure.

In palliative care settings, Reminiscence Therapy has been found to support individuals in making peace with their past and resolving any lingering issues, leading to a sense of closure and emotional comfort (Macleod et al., 2015).

Enhancing Life Satisfaction and Well-Being
Achieving closure through Reminiscence Therapy often leads to improved life satisfaction[7] and well-being. By reflecting on and integrating past experiences, individuals can develop a greater appreciation for their life’s journey and find meaning in their experiences. This enhanced sense of life satisfaction contributes to overall emotional well-being.

A meta-analysis in International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry highlights that Reminiscence Therapy can improve life satisfaction and reduce symptoms of depression by helping individuals achieve a sense of fulfillment and closure (Bohlmeijer et al., 2011).

Applications of Reminiscence Therapy in Achieving Closure
Geriatric Care
In geriatric care settings, Reminiscence Therapy is used to support older adults in reflecting on their lives and finding meaning.[8] This approach helps individuals achieve closure by integrating past experiences and resolving any emotional issues. It is particularly beneficial for managing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults (Bohlmeijer et al., 2011).

Dementia Care
Reminiscence Therapy is valuable in dementia care, helping individuals with cognitive impairments maintain a sense of identity and continuity.[9]  By reflecting on their past, individuals with dementia can achieve a sense of closure and preserve their personal history, which is crucial for their emotional well-being (Spector et al., 2001).

Palliative Care
In palliative care, Reminiscence Therapy offers comfort and closure to individuals facing terminal illnesses.[10] By reflecting on their life experiences and achievements, patients can find peace and reconciliation, improving their overall quality of life (Macleod et al., 2015).

Conclusion
Reminiscence Therapy provides a valuable approach for achieving a sense of closure in life. By facilitating the reflection and integration of past experiences, this therapy helps individuals process emotions, create a coherent life narrative, and find meaning in their journey. As we recognize the importance of closure for emotional well-being, reminiscence therapy offers a powerful tool for enhancing life satisfaction and achieving a sense of fulfillment.

Would you like to master the art of helping your clients find a sense of closure in life? Discover how to use Life Review to embrace their past and enrich their present. Learn new approaches to meaning making and find purpose through reflection. Explore techniques for reconstructing and revising personal narratives to enhance self-perception and resolve emotional conflicts and strengthen their sense of self and identity. Benefit from all that Reminiscence Therapy has to offer. Join us for our 6-week Certificate Course on Reminiscence Therapy, starting October 1, from 7-9 pm Eastern Standard Time via Zoom, with continuing education credits available nationwide. Click here to register.

[1] Latha, K. S., et al. “Reminiscence therapy: An overview.” Middle East Journal of Age and Ageing 11.1 (2014): 18-22.

[2] Lawson, Hilary. Closure: A story of everything. Routledge, 2005.

[3] Chao, Shu‐Yuan, et al. “Meet the real elders: reminiscence links past and present.” Journal of Clinical Nursing 17.19 (2008): 2647-2653.

[4] Lappe, Joan M. “Reminiscing: The life review therapy.” Journal of gerontological nursing 13.4 (1987): 12-16.

[5] Bohlmeijer, Ernst Thomas, Gerben Johan Westerhof, and Monneke Emmerik-de Jong. “The effects of integrative reminiscence on meaning in life: Results of a quasi-experimental study.” Aging and Mental Health 12.5 (2008): 639-646.

[6] Jo, Kae-Hwa, and Gyeong-Ju An. “Effects of a group reminiscence program on self-forgiveness, life satisfaction, and death anxiety among institutionalized older adults.” Korean Journal of Adult Nursing 30.5 (2018): 546-554.

[7] Zhong, Qing, Cheng Chen, and Shulin Chen. “Effectiveness on quality of life and life satisfaction for older adults: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of Life Review and Reminiscence Therapy across settings.” Behavioral Sciences 13.10 (2023): 830.

[8] Cherian, Vigy Elizebth. “An experimental study to assess the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on the level of depression among geriatrics in a WHO society, Greater Noida, UP.” International Journal of Nursing Education 11.1 (2019): 135-139.

[9] Park, Kyongok, et al. “A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of reminiscence therapy for people with dementia.” International psychogeriatrics 31.11 (2019): 1581-1597.

[10] Bozkurt, Canan, and Yasemin Yildirim. “The effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on the symptom management, the life satisfaction, and the self-transcendence in palliative care patients: a randomized controlled trial.” Supportive Care in Cancer 32.7 (2024): 431.