Reminiscence as a counseling technique with elders includes which of the following?

• A. All these answers are correct.
• B. Creates an opportunity for pleasant memories for most.
• C. Can lead to a sense of ego integrity—a sense of having lived as good a life as one could.
• D. May allow for the reframing of experiences that had been seen as negative.

Answer: (A)

Reminiscence in counseling older adults centers on revisiting life experiences to build coherence and meaning, which supports psychological well-being during aging. Creating space to recall pleasant memories can lift mood and reinforce a stable sense of self for many individuals. It can also foster ego integrity, the feeling that one's life has been lived with purpose and that one has made the most of opportunities, which aligns with Erikson’s ideas about aging. In addition, the process can help reframe experiences that were previously seen as negative, allowing them to be understood within a broader life narrative rather than as fixed failures. Given these multiple benefits, all of these statements describe aspects commonly involved in reminiscence with elders.