The Development of the Adult Self: An Existential, Relational, and Developmental Approach to Our Human Search for Meaning

Abstract

The author offers a theory of the development of the adult self that can be used to understand existential life predicaments that may not originate in childhood. She proposes an existential and developmental approach to working with a client’s search for meaning in a relational psychotherapy and offers five developmental stages of the adult self, diagramed as concentric circles in an integrating Adult ego state. Drawing on the work of existential psychotherapists, developmental psychologists, and Levin-Landheer’s cycle of development, the author outlines possible tasks and conflicts of each life stage. Rather than a medicalized treatment plan, she offers an existential and cocreative perspective comprised of eight possible therapeutic phases that she calls encounters for change. The clinical examples she provides demonstrate how exploring and sharing our own painful truths about life’s journey can provide a spiritual, relational, and cocreative encounter for our clients and ourselves.

Keywords:

• Integrating Adult
• developmental theory
• existential
• spiritual
• relational
• meaning
• cocreative
• transactional analysis
• psychotherapy
• counseling

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the cocreated encounters with clients, supervisees, trainees, and colleagues that have inspired, critiqued, and developed her thinking and practice. It is these encounters that have made this article possible.

Disclosure statement

The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes on contributors

Rachel Cook

Rachel Cook, MSc, MA (Oxon), PGCE (Cantab), Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), Certified Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), Dip Clinical Supervision, is a Senior Lecturer and Primary Tutor at Metanoia Institute, London, and a psychotherapist, supervisor, and trainer in private practice in Hampshire, United Kingdom. She can be reached at The Rowans, Harrow Road, Neacroft, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 8JW, United Kingdom; email: [email protected].