As we help clients work through painful memories and feelings, self-defeating thoughts, or stressful and overwhelming life events, it is easy to understand why they feel stuck on such a negative life path.  Many clients begin to get tunnel vision about their lives, believing that change will never come or the dark cloud hanging over them will always be in there in one form or another. Although it may feel counter-intuitive to them, and even to you, helping them to re-focus on a sense of gratitude can have a powerful effect.  Feeling grateful actually changes  brain chemistry and allows clients to consider possibilities that were unimaginable before.  Encourage your clients to keep a gratitude journal, jotting down simple things at the end of each day that they can be grateful for.  Or have clients go on a "gratitude walk" saying out loud or in their mind the things that they see, hear, smell, etc. in their environment that they can notice and honor.  Sharing their discoveries with you in session deepens their insights and broadens their perspective on life.