Applying life-design counseling to young adults experiencing unmastered psychosocial developmental tasks

Abstract

Unresolved traumatic experiences and unmastered developmental tasks can adversely affect personality, thereby exerting a significant psychological impact on career trajectory and adaptability. This study investigated the influence of life-design counseling on young adults in mastering unresolved psychosocial developmental tasks. A qualitative, mixed-methods case study research design was employed, featuring pre- and post-intervention data collection phases and an adapted life-design counseling intervention. This intervention incorporated the Career Interest Profile Version 7 (CIP) and various life-design strategies. Thematic analysis revealed three core themes: unmastered psychosocial developmental tasks, external influences on the navigation of these tasks, and intrapersonal processes facilitating task mastery. The findings revealed that life-design counselling enhanced the resolution of unmastered psychosocial developmental tasks, self-awareness, self-knowledge, and self-reflection, and promoted a heightened sense of meaning and purpose in participants’ lives. These results offer theoretical insights and practical applications, enhancing the understanding and implementation of psychosocial developmental tasks within life-design counseling frameworks.