Psychotherapy as a Developmental Process

Abstract

Pscyhotherapy as an effective developmental process requires both knowledge of personality development in general and knowledge of the person's particular developmental influences, including cultural. Among the latter, commercial culture and peer culture, as well as family influences, are especially powerful forces that college psychotherapists need to understand in depth. Several case examples are used to illustrate the influence of social conformity pressures and how the psychotherapist can further perspective and understanding. Alcohol and other drugs, violence perpetration, machismo training and the excesses of the beauty industry are discussed in the context of developmental psychotherapy.