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Seeking Understanding of the Young Adult and Their Experience of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

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Seeking Understanding of the Young Adult and Their Experience of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Seeking Understanding of the Young Adult and their Experience of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy A Hermeneutic Literature Review Jackie Petter A dissertation submitted to Auckland University of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Psychotherapy 2015 Supervisor: Joanne Emmens Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences Department of Psychotherapy and Counselling Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................... 1 Young adulthood – a developmental phase ................................................................ 3 Young adults engaged in psychotherapy .................................................................... 4 Definition of terms ........................................................................................................ 5 Dissertation Outline ..................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 Methodology and Method ........................................................ 7 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 Epistemological principles underpinning this research ............................................ 7 Seeking understanding through hermeneutic interpretation ................................... 8 A hermeneutic literature review ............................................................................... 10 Method ......................................................................................................................... 10 The hermeneutic literature review research process .............................................................. 11 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 3 Young Adulthood .................................................................... 15 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 15 Recognising ‘young adulthood’ ................................................................................. 15 Adolescence… ....................................................................................................................... 15 ...to young (emerging) adulthood – a distinctly different phase. ........................................... 16 Young adulthood – an unpredictable and exploratory phase ................................ 17 What does it mean to be a young adult? .................................................................. 20 Developmental tasks and features ............................................................................ 20 Western, post-industrialised society’s view ........................................................................... 20 The young adult’s view .......................................................................................................... 21 Cultural considerations and complexities ................................................................ 24 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 26 Chapter 4 Developmental Perspectives ................................................... 28 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 28 A self-definition/relatedness matrix .......................................................................... 28 Psychodynamic theory considerations ..................................................................... 29 Theories emphasising separation and individuation .............................................................. 29 Theories emphasising relatedness .......................................................................................... 30 i Psychodynamic theoretical considerations of the development of the young adult ...................................................................................................................................... 31 D. W. Winnicott ..................................................................................................................... 31 Melanie Klein ........................................................................................................................ 35 Colarusso - The third separation-individuation ..................................................................... 39 Kohut - Development of structural integrity of the self ......................................................... 41 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 5 Self-Identity and Self-in-Relationship ................................... 44 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 44 Young adults balancing interdependence and independence ................................ 44 Self-Identity exploration during young adulthood .................................................. 46 Erik Erikson ........................................................................................................................... 46 What is identity? .................................................................................................................... 47 Identity (role) confusion – identity crisis ............................................................................... 50 Identity through work (and love) ........................................................................................... 57 Self-in-relationship, connectedness and intimacy in young adulthood ................. 58 The development of self-in-relationship and intimacy .......................................................... 59 The role of family .................................................................................................................. 60 Premature intimacy ................................................................................................................ 63 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 6 Discussion and implications for clinical practice ................. 65 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 65 Review and Summary – So, what’s it like to be a young adult? ............................ 65 Young adults and psychotherapy .............................................................................. 66 Psychotherapy with young adults – what works best? ........................................... 68 A secure relationship .............................................................................................................. 69 A growth promoting relationship ........................................................................................... 75 Brief therapy with young adults ............................................................................................. 79 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 80 Limitations of this study and opportunities for further research .......................... 80 Concluding thoughts .................................................................................................. 82 References ................................................................................................................... 84 ii Attestation of Authorship I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person (except where explicitly defined in the acknowledgements), nor material which to a substantial extent has been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of higher learning. Signature Jackie Petter Date iii Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my academic supervisor Joanne Emmens, for her support and guidance as this dissertation process unfolded. I am also very grateful to Susan Green and Gavin Stansfield for providing the little bits of extra sustenance I have needed along the way. I thank my extended family, friends and peers for their quiet words of encouragement and I wish to acknowledge the extra gentle mentoring I received from Margot and Pautia, in particular. Additional acknowledgment and gratitude go to Pautia Crowe for her excellent proof reading and editing skills. I also want to express my thanks to my young adult clients for providing the inspiration for my topic. Lastly and most sincerely, I thank my husband John and my children, Olivia, Florence, Ella and Sylvie. All these years of study would not have been possible without your love, support and tolerance. iv Abstract The young adult is at a developmental juncture, metaphorically standing on a threshold. Having recently departed the structured environment of school and possibly simultaneously, home, they are stepping out into the world full of hopes and dreams. For many, this time can be overwhelming and confusing, and for some, this results in anxiety, depression or other psychological disorders and they may seek support and sustenance from family, friends
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