ABSTRACT
The developmental approach in the author’s work, which is primarily with couples and families and with individual men, is based on his belief that behavior, either satisfying or dissatisfying, develops over time. The field of psychology has been somewhat slow in entering the issues that affect adult men. The popular literature initially outpaced the professional literature and remains a valuable resource for clients. The issues facing adult men as developmental; that is, they are seen as part of an ongoing process of learning about oneself and about the world. Adult men face the following issues: the search for power, the search for intimacy, establishment of an effective protector /provider role, creating a life outside one’s career and family and developing a workable style. Effective clinical outcomes that really last must include attention to immediate and often person-specific concerns as well as to more ongoing and often pervasive issues.
