The Handbook of Structured Life Review By Barbara K. Haight, Dr.P.H., and Barrett S. Haight, J.D.

Excerpted from the Introduction of The Handbook of Structured Life Review by Barbara K. Haight, Dr.Ph., and Barrett S. Haight, J.D.

Copyright © 2007 by Health Professions Press, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Introduction

Research has demonstrated that a structured review of one’s life is helpful, even  therapeutic, especially for older people. This Handbook shows you how an effective Therapeutic Listener can conduct the “Structured Life Review process.” This process will help a variety of people (Life Reviewers) to review and reconcile their lives.

This Handbook is a comprehensive guide for conducting a Structured Life Review and for training you to be a Therapeutic Listener. The Life Review is a form of reminiscing—a natural human activity. We all do it; we tell “stories” we have lived, both good and bad, long and short. Experts say this is good for us. The potential therapeutic benefits from a Structured Life Review are many: reconciling one’s past life, finding forgiveness, reducing depression, reconnecting with friends or family, increasing life satisfaction, and increasing self-esteem, among others.

Although these results particularly help older people, other people affected by traumatic or significant events (family deaths, prolonged hospitalization, hospice, divorce, entrance

to a nursing home, being fired, planning retirement, etc.) can realize those benefits as well. This all-inclusive Handbook teaches the professional as well as the layperson how to conduct a Structured Life Review. Use it as a guide.

Overview of the Handbook

This Handbook begins with the background of the Life Review process and then is divided into three parts, followed by an annotated bibliography, references, appendixes, and index. The three parts focus on: preparation, application, and uses of the Structured Life Review process.

Part I, Fundamentals of Structured Life Review, prepares you for conducting the Life Review. Part I includes:

1. The background for the Structured Life Review process

2. The foundation of a Structured Life Review

3. The use of specific counseling skills and interviewing techniques

4. The use of questions from the Life Review Form (LRF) in Appendix B

5. The relative roles of the Therapeutic Listener and the Life Reviewer

Part II, Conducting the Structured Life Review, applies what is presented in Part I to actual sessions of the Life Review, an 8-week process. Each of the chapters in Part II discusses each of the visits of the Structured Life Review process. Abbreviated guidelines for the Therapeutic Listener appear in a box at the beginning of each chapter. Each chapter:

• Applies helpful interviewing techniques and necessary counseling skills
  
  
• Relates to one or more stages of Erikson’s developmental model (Eight Stages of Man)
  
  
• Focuses on key questions from the LRF
  
  
• Provides detailed information on the various types of Reviewers whom you will encounter

One hour per week is the recommended time per visit. Depending on circumstances, you may vary the length and the number of visits each week. Part II also contains helpful examples and excerpts from actual Life Reviews to guide you. Italic type is used for Reviewer comments in these excerpts to indicate that they are actual quotes, whereas bold italic type is used for actual Therapeutic Listener responses and remarks from past Life Reviews. Each chapter also contains recommended questions from the LRF to ensure that you get the Reviewers reminiscing about all the key stages of their lives.

Part III, Uses and Outcomes of the Structured Life Review, completes the Handbook by presenting many applications and purposes of the Life Review with diverse populations. An annotated bibliography is also provided as background material for understanding this Structured Life Review process and for future research.

The Therapeutic Listener

Who can be a good Therapeutic Listener? Anyone! Anyone can guide a Life Review who has a reasonable education, the diligence and intelligence to read and practice the instructions in this Handbook, and the ability to learn the skills and techniques required of a caring, attentive Listener. Conceptually, Life Review is simple. Practically, however, it is complex. You, as the Therapeutic Listener, must learn and practice good listening habits, good counseling skills and techniques, and good Life Review practices. You must identify and deal with a variety of “Life Reviewers” to guide each one through a successful Structured Life Review process. There is a lot to learn and apply. This Handbook will teach you. We suggest you study this whole Handbook in advance and then review the particular chapter related to each particular session as you go through an actual Life Review. Note that in front of each application chapter, we have provided a summary of that chapter in the form of “Listener Guidelines.” This overview of the chapter can guide you in preparing for that particular session and ensuring you cover everything during that visit.

Almost everyone can benefit from the Structured Life Review process. Prospects are everywhere. We discuss specific potential reviewers and the benefits they gain in the last chapter. The process is pleasant for both participants. This is important work and you can bring therapeutic benefits to many people. We wish you success!