I am detailing Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. He looked at the way children
process new ideas as they develop, believing that almost everything learned was built upon a
simple base most children are born with. He identified four stages of adaption that he used as
constructs based on empirical support. These are schema, assimilation, accommodation, and
equilibration, and describe how neural pathways are created and recreated as children cognitively
develop (Wong et al., 2020). An example of a process he observed was when a child makes a
memory of a dog, realizes not all dogs are the same, and has to create new categories in their
mind as they gather and organize information. Based on this and similar research, he proposed
that all children develop through four distinct but predictable stages defined by new ways to
access, store, and use information. These are: Sensorimotor stage (birth to 18 to 24 months);
Preoperational stage (2 to 7 years); Concrete operational stage (7 to 11 years); and Formal
operational stage (≥ 11 years). He attributes the boundaries between stages to be biological in
nature, but admits that environment can play a role in the speed a child arrives at a transition
point. His contribution on cognitive development provides educators with crucial insights into
how students learn in different ages. Educators can thus design learning activities according to
students’ stage of cognitive development (Saxena et al., 2019).
I believe that most cultures around the world frame their experience with spirituality or religion
as major pieces of their worldview. Therefore, to adhere to the ACA’s commitment to honoring
diversity and embracing a multicultural approach (ACA, 2014), it is prudent and dictated to
research the belief systems of our clients. When addressing religious and spiritual issues in
therapy, a more holistic and complete treatment plan may be generated for clients (Freire, 2018).
To deny the connection between spirituality and other areas of development would create
misalignment with the Biblical principle of integrated worship. Romans 12 instructs us to
“present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
service of worship ( , 2020, Romans 12:1). Here, the Apostle Paul New American Standard Bible
connects the spiritual and the physical, and in so doing, creates an acceptable sacrifice. In
addition, religious and spiritual beliefs are often significant in guiding people to determine the
type of outcomes they want therapeutically as well as how they want to seek those goals
(Gladding & Crocket, 2018). This abides by the ACA moral principle of autonomy (ACA, 2014).
The time has come when nontraditional approaches to the study of spirituality and spiritual
development among college students is warranted. Qualitative research has moved from the
periphery of social science methodologies to acceptance as a legitimate form of research (Love
& Talbot, 2009).
References
American Counseling Association. (2014). . 2014 ACA code of ethics
https://www.counseling.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2014-code-of-
ethics-finaladdress.pdf
Freire, J. S. (2018). Mental health, religiosity and spirituality in Portugal: Towards the
development and integration of religious/spiritual competence for mental health
professionals. https://core.ac.uk/download/542322347.pdf
Gladding, S. T., & Crockett, J. E. (2018). Religious and spiritual issues in counseling and
therapy: Overcoming clinical barriers. , (2), Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 21
152–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2018.1476947
Love, P., & Talbot, D. (2009). Defining Spiritual Development: A Missing Consideration for
Student Affairs. (4), 614–628. https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-NASPA Journal, 46
6605.5035
New American Standard Bible. (2020). Biblegateway.com. https://www.biblegateway.com/
versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB/#booklist
Saxena, A., Lo, C. K., Hew, K. F., & Wong, G. K. (2019). Designing unplugged and plugged
activities to cultivate computational thinking: An exploratory study in early childhood
education. , (1), 55–66. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher 29
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-019-00478-w
Wong, D. W., Hall, K. R., & Hernandez, W. L. (2020). Counseling Individuals Through the
Lifespan (Counseling and Professional Identity) (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
Haley, I think you did an excellent job presenting the basic tenets of Erikson’s theory of
psychosocial development in a concise way. As our counseling profession continues to grow
more multicultural, I was encouraged that further study of Erik’s theories “provides diversity in
the studies covering the different stages of development (Carvalho & Veiga, 2022).” Erikson
argued that the ego is the center of a person’s unique individuality and cannot be understood
isolated from others and the larger environment (Van Niekerk & Breed, 2018). As Christians, we
understand that Jesus is the center of our identity and that God made us to live in community.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself up for me.” (New American Standard Bible, 2020). How might our
counseling sessions with Christians change if our clients truly believed that the effects of future
negative experiences could be understood as happening to Jesus and not themselves? If Christ
is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6), and the truth sets us free (John 18:32), could the
truth that Christ lives in us shield us from painful experiences occurring after we accept Jesus as
Lord and Savior? I believe that what I have just describe could fit within what Haley was
describing as spiritual development.
de Carvalho, N.A. & Veiga, F.H. (2022). Psychosocial development research in adolescence: a
scoping review. Trends in Psychology, 30, 640-669. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43076-022-00143-0
New American Standard Bible. (2020). Biblegateway.com. https://www.biblegateway.com/
versions/New-American-Standard-Bible-NASB/#booklist
Van Niekerk, M., & Breed, G. (2018). The role of parents in the development of faith from birth
to seven years of age. Theological Studies, 74, 1–11. doi:https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v74i2.4773
