Respond to the Classmate’s Discussion (below) as you would in a face-to face class by stating why you agree and asking questions pertaining to the discussion. (Minimum of 250 Words)
Stephen Discussion
These chapters for this week have helped me to understand this stage of life much better, and have, consequently, helped deepen my insight into what a few of my clients are facing in their current struggles. It’s interesting to read about stages of life and then to see them play out in people you know that are part of those age/stage groups. Obviously, they are expressed differently, but there is an overall theme, and I am grateful to have a greater understanding of those themes, especially because I lack experience in the middle-adulthood stage. Both of my clients in their 50s are struggling with ways to feel they are contributing to society and feeling, what I can imagine now, some sort of stagnation as they re-evaluate their lives. One is in a fulfilling marriage, and one is on the brink of divorce, but it’s very interesting how they are struggling with similar issues and have decided that this is the time for them to start therapy. They decided they need help to process through different parts of their lives they have experienced and help in continuing to ensure they are living a healthy life. I can imagine it’s because, like I said, they are re-evaluating their lives and determining whether it is “successful”. One of them is a nurse who is a great mentor to other nurses and the other started a non-profit for the betterment of her community, and this just goes to show their desires to care for their society and have generativity. It’s kind of interesting too because I’m trying to help teach both of them differentiation of self as they are definitely not self-absorbed individuals, though they may very well think they are!
Reference
Erford, B.T. (2017). An advanced lifespan odyssey for counseling professionals (1st ed.). Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning