A review of life as a coherent, meaningful narrative: turning points, lessons, legacy, unfinished matters. Butler developed this method for work with older people; Yalom integrated it into existential therapy. The aim is not a positive reframing but finding a thread: how different events are linked in a single story, what they mean, what can be passed on. Mistakes are reconsidered not as failures but as milestones.
Step-by-step guide
- Invite a backward look: "If you were writing a book about your life — what would you call this chapter?"
- Explore the turning points: "Which events changed the direction?"
- Find the lessons: "What did you understand about yourself through these events?"
- Explore the unfinished: "Is there something you would like to say, do, pass on?"
- Connect past with present: "How does this shape who you are now?"
When to use
- Old age and the nearness of death
- Retirement as the end of an active phase
- Severe illness with a reappraisal of life
- Depression with devaluation of what has been lived ("a life lived in vain")
- Long-term therapy in the closing phase
Key phrases
If you were writing a book about your life — what would you call this chapter? What would be the main thing in it?
Follow-up questions
What events changed you — made you who you became?
What would you want to be remembered for?
Is there something important to say — while there is still a chance?
Alternative phrasings
"If your life were a film — what would the main theme be?"
"What have you passed on to others — through words, actions, simply through who you were?"
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not force "positive reframing" — what matters is honesty
- ⚠️ In depression with heavy self-blame — start small, not with the whole life at once
- ⚠️ Respect what the client does not wish to revisit
Source: Butler, 1963 — The Life Review; Yalom, 1980 — Existential Psychotherapy
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.