"Thomas, 58, has been struggling with depression since his divorce seven years ago. A family friend of Thomas referred him and his 32-year-old daughter, Sarah, to me for family therapy. In addition to the loss of his marriage, Thomas has lost his relationship with Sarah. She blames him for her parents' divorce and has not allowed him to spend time with his four-year-old grandson."
"Thomas sat diagonally across from me on the loveseat in my office. My therapy dog, Friede, sat on the floor with her head resting on his leg, as Thomas softly scratched her ears and said, "She's a great therapy dog. I already feel a little better touching her soft fur and ears." "Yes, she's an excellent healer," I replied. He began. "I understand why you are seeing Sarah and me separately.""
Gray divorce commonly causes enduring pain, loss, and grief that make noticing positives difficult. Research shows gratitude reduces depression and enhances emotional and physical well-being. Practicing gratitude can support healing for estranged parents and adult children and can facilitate reconnection with grandchildren. Therapeutic interventions can introduce gratitude exercises to prepare family members for joint sessions and to reduce isolation. Case examples show that simple gratitude practices, combined with supportive therapy, can soften defenses, lower depressive symptoms, and create openings for restored communication and relationship repair between older parents and adult children.
Read at Psychology Today
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