About this ebook
Jennifer R. Curry, PhD, NCC
Shirley B. Barton Endowed Professor
College of Human Sciences and Education
Louisiana State University
Provides fundamental knowledge while challenging readers to question, evaluate, and consider contextual factors when applying developmental theories
This unique and refreshing text imbues lifespan development theories, concepts, and research with unaccustomed energy and life—while meeting the rigorous academic standards required for accreditation in the helping professions. Going beyond mere memorization, the book illuminates the contextual and cultural dimensions of human development by underscoring current and relevant research; considering the racial, social, and economic factors that impact human development; offering the perspectives of a broad spectrum of esteemed helping professionals; and incorporating case studies, podcasts, vivid graphics, and interactive activities.
Highlighting the ways in which developmental theories are applicable to contemporary life, the text uses case studies to demonstrate how clinicians can use their knowledge of development to support client growth, the expertise of multidisciplinary health professionals to highlight different developmental theories and approaches, and analyzes foundational theories against a backdrop of current research that factors in contextual and cultural dimensions. These include a focus on racial and social inequality, social media, children with special needs, persons with disabilities, poverty, and development in time of pandemic. Chapters are organized by lifespan development phases and begin with a case study emphasizing cultural and contextual considerations followed by relevant theories and models to conceptualize the particular phase. Supportive teaching tools include Instructor's Manual, PowerPoints, and Test Bank.
Key Features:
- Delivers engaging approach to lifespan development while maintaining strict academic standards
- Illuminates the contextual and cultural dimensions of human development by underscoring contemporary research
- Offers the perspectives of multidisciplinary experts who highlight varied theories and approaches
- Written by authors of different ages, cultural backgrounds, and professional identities to ensure diverse, culturally responsive perspectives
- Provides podcasts for most chapters from experts focusing on cultural and contextual dimensions of specific theories
- Uses student reflection boxes to focus on specific and current factors impacting development
- Includes abundant graphics, interactive activities, and links to outside resources to reinforce learning
About the author
Karen M. Roller, PhD, MFT, is a cis-het, white, temporarily able-bodied tomboy whose body increasingly reminds her she is now in midlife. Born into the middle class and raised Catholic, she aims to retain the service orientation of that tradition's true Teachers while she spends her adult pennies traveling the inhabited world unlearning the colonial aspects of it and learning how the rest of the world embodies connection with the Divine; this makes her a yogic Sufi with an environmental conservation bent. She is an associate professor of counseling at Palo Alto University, and clinical coordinator at Family Connections, a parent-involvement preschool serving low-resource migrant families in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a bilingual marriage and family therapist and supervisor who has been primarily field-based, she has spent a lot of years facilitating sessions in tri- and quad-generational homes, foster homes, hospitals, and community-based settings; this has made her a trauma-informed, cross-cultural attachment nerd. Humbled by the impact of how oppression, cultures, and quality of caregiving relationships inform the sense of self across the lifespan, she has been blessed to learn from babies, children, teens, and adults through each phase of life to death. She is a fortunate daughter, sister, grandchild, niece, cousin, co-worker, friend, and (now most importantly) mom. Collaborating with this wise and inspiring writing sisterhood has enlivened her to more deeply embrace what life may send her way.
