What is postpartum psychosis? A guide for therapists
Depression is one of the most common mental health concerns of older adults, impacting their quality of life, especially those with dementia. Reminiscence therapy, sometimes called “reminisce therapy,” is an effective therapy for treating depression in older adults.
In this article, we explore more about this intervention, how it works, its benefits, and examples of reminiscence therapy in action.
What is reminiscence therapy?
Reminiscence therapy is a psychosocial, structured mental health intervention used by therapists, nurses, or facilitators for older adults and those with dementia. The main focus of therapeutic reminiscence is to encourage clients to recall pleasant memories, such as family celebrations and major life events that brought happy or joyful feelings, to support mental health and improve quality of life for older adults.
Therapists, or other trained facilitators, may use props such as photos, videos, scents, music, sound recordings, or familiar objects to prompt participants to recall pleasant memories.
The origins of reminiscence therapy date back to the work of psychiatrist and gerontologist Dr. Robert Neil Butler, who developed the concept of life review in 1963, which involves participants reviewing, re-experiencing, and generating new interpretations of their lives.
Reminiscence therapy can be conducted individually or in groups, and may differ in approach based on the client’s individual circumstances, mental health conditions, and other needs.
The different reminiscence interventions include:
Simple reminiscence therapy: This type of therapeutic reminiscence is for older adults wanting to improve psychological symptoms, but these participants do not require medical treatment such as medication to treat mental health concerns.
Life review: This intervention is based on the participants' individual circumstances and requires facilitation to design, plan, and formulate processes, questions, and goals.
Life review therapy: A structured psychotherapy for older adults with depression and other mental health conditions.
What is an example of reminiscence therapy?
Reminiscence therapy is commonly conducted by trained mental health professionals as an intervention, but it is also something we do every day, informally, with friends, loved ones, and family members.
Some examples of reminiscence therapy include:
Taking a grandparent to their favorite restaurant or to the place they celebrated a memorable event with their loved ones.
Using a photo album to recall lifetime achievements and character strengths.
As part of a group therapy intervention for depression, participants may be asked to recall a time they overcame a challenge or identify memories that speak to happy times in their lives.
Inviting older family members over for their favorite meal to recall a family event together.
Individual therapy homework may include reviewing video footage, an old photo album, or listening to a song to recall pleasurable memories.
Visiting a family member with dementia wearing a scent or color they may associate with you.
Asking older adults to share memories, letters, or other objects to remember a happy time in their lives, such as when a family member was born or photos from their wedding day.
What are the benefits of reminiscence therapy?
The benefits of reminiscence therapy have been explored across a range of studies, particularly among older adults in clinical, community, and long-term care settings. While outcomes can vary depending on the format and population studied, reminiscence therapy has been linked to several consistent improvements in emotional and cognitive well-being. Some research shows that reminiscence therapy may:
Increase self-awareness
Increase older adults' remission from depression
Improve quality of life
Enhance self-esteem
Deepen bonds with family members and loved ones
Promote social connection
Reduce symptoms of agitation in patients with dementia
Give patients increased pleasure and comfort
Provide mental stimulation
Positively impact anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction
However, some researchers have highlighted the need to standardize protocols and implementation of reminiscence interventions to evaluate their effectiveness further.
Sources
Alzheimer's Society. (2023). Anxiety and dementia.
Liu, Z., Yang, F., Lou, Y., Zhou, W., & Tong, F. (2021). The Effectiveness of Reminiscence Therapy on Alleviating Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology.
Pedersen, S. K. A., Andersen, P. N., Lugo, R. G., Andreassen, M., & Sütterlin, S. (2017). Effects of Music on Agitation in Dementia: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology.
Woods, B., O'Philbin, L., Farrell, E. M., Spector, A. E., & Orrell, M. (2018). Reminiscence therapy for dementia. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD001120.
World Health Organization. (2026). Dementia.
Yanagida, N., Yamaguchi, T., & Matsunari, Y. (2024). Evaluating the Impact of Reminiscence Therapy on Cognitive and Emotional Outcomes in Dementia Patients. Journal of Personalized Medicine.
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