“Perspectives: The Golden Years” Program Transcript As you've been learning in this course, we go through various life stages throughout our lives, and the last stage that we enter is known as the elderly stage, the older adult stage, or from Erikson's perspective, developmentally, is the integrity versus ego despair stage. And technically, we reference people who are 65 and above as being part of this older developmental stage. I've had the privilege of working with a number of aging adults. We know that right now about one in six adults in the US is age 60 or older, which means this is a population in need of our help and support. In fact, while people who are aged 60 and older are growing, the population of people available to support them is actually diminishing. In my experience, I've been able to work with folks who have been dealing with end of life issues, meaning they had a terminal illness and were facing an imminent death. I've worked with individuals who were in long term care. I've worked with individuals who have faced retirement and beyond and found a loss of purpose or a sense of needing to find a new avenue for their lives. In the integrity versus ego despair area of life, for example, to use the Erikson's model, we know that people are trying to find their place, purpose, and meaning in life. They are passed their childbearing years. They're passed their employment years, and they're really trying to find a sense of who they are and the legacy that they'll leave. One of the techniques or interventions that you can use with this population is a life review to help them explore, collect, and artifact their memories of their life to place these artifacts in a sense of meaning and perspective that they might even share with their children and grandchildren along the way. Family can be both very supportive and very challenging to the aging client. As a counselor, it's your job to remember who your client is. If your client is the aging individual, that is who you will advocate for and with, and you want to involve them in his decision making process as much as possible. For this particular stage, the aging population, what you really want to focus on is the fact that these are individuals who've led a long and productive life. They do have value and meaning and they have a lot to teach you. It's important to recognize that while they may be in physical or cognitive decline, the spirit of the active and engaged adult is still present. And when you can connect with that spirit, you can find a place to work with your client. When you begin your training as a counselor, one of the aspects that you're asked to look at here in your Walden program are your personal characteristics. ©2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1 What makes you a good and effective counselor? And what are some things that might get in the way of being a good and effective counselor? I know, for me, I had a pass.

1. “Perspectives: The Golden Years”
Program Transcript
As you've been learning in this course, we go through various
life stages
throughout our lives, and the last stage that we enter is known
as the elderly
stage, the older adult stage, or from Erikson's perspective,
developmentally, is
the integrity versus ego despair stage. And technically, we
reference people who

2. are 65 and above as being part of this older developmental
stage.
I've had the privilege of working with a number of aging adults.
We know that
right now about one in six adults in the US is age 60 or older,
which means this is
a population in need of our help and support. In fact, while
people who are aged
60 and older are growing, the population of people available to
support them is
actually diminishing.
In my experience, I've been able to work with folks who have
been dealing with
end of life issues, meaning they had a terminal illness and were
facing an
imminent death. I've worked with individuals who were in long
term care. I've
worked with individuals who have faced retirement and beyond
and found a loss
of purpose or a sense of needing to find a new avenue for their
lives.
In the integrity versus ego despair area of life, for example, to
use the Erikson's
model, we know that people are trying to find their place,
purpose, and meaning
in life. They are passed their childbearing years. They're passed
their
employment years, and they're really trying to find a sense of
who they are and
the legacy that they'll leave. One of the techniques or
interventions that you can
use with this population is a life review to help them explore,
collect, and artifact

3. their memories of their life to place these artifacts in a sense of
meaning and
perspective that they might even share with their children and
grandchildren
along the way.
Family can be both very supportive and very challenging to the
aging client. As a
counselor, it's your job to remember who your client is. If your
client is the aging
individual, that is who you will advocate for and with, and you
want to involve
them in his decision making process as much as possible.
For this particular stage, the aging population, what you really
want to focus on is
the fact that these are individuals who've led a long and
productive life. They do
have value and meaning and they have a lot to teach you. It's
important to
recognize that while they may be in physical or cognitive
decline, the spirit of the
active and engaged adult is still present. And when you can
connect with that
spirit, you can find a place to work with your client.
When you begin your training as a counselor, one of the aspects
that you're
asked to look at here in your Walden program are your personal
characteristics.
©2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1

4. What makes you a good and effective counselor? And what are
some things that
might get in the way of being a good and effective counselor?
I know, for me, I had a passion for being with people and
helping to understand
where they were. And I also felt a lot of compassion for some
that others had
difficulty finding compassion for. People with serious mental
illness, the aging
population, people in decline in their life. For you, I hope that
you'll find those
parts of your personality that best meet the needs of your clients
and are able to
build upon them as you become a professional counselor.
©2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 2
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1
“Late Adulthood”
Program Transcript
Instructions:
Post by Day 4 a description of two developmental factors that
impact late

5. adulthood. Explain how these factors might impact emotional
and psychological
well-being. Then, describe a protective factor that could
optimize the older adult’s
health and resilience. Justify your response with references to
this week’s
Learning Resources and the current literature. Be specific.
Respond by Day 7 to at least two of your colleagues using one
or more of the
following approaches:
Select a colleague who was assigned a different client than you.
Suggest at least
one counseling goal or strategy he or she might use to support
the health and
resilience of the older adult.
Select a colleague who was assigned the same client as you.
Contrast your
conceptualizations of the client’s developmental factors and
state of well-being.
[Martinez Family]
General Background:
The Martinez family consists of Miguel, Jeannette, Gabby,
Tommy, and Christina
(the adopted daughter of Jeannette’s cousin).
The family’s ethnicity is Hispanic, and both Miguel and
Jeannette come from very
large extended families—many of whom live in the area.

6. They are Seventh-Day Adventists who are very involved in their
church; they
both hold leadership positions in the church and attend services
multiple times
each week.
Presenting Issues:
It’s been over 10 years since the Martinez family lost their
home and friends in
the tornado, and the family is doing well.
Miguel (70) and Jeannette (72) live in a small home in the area
now, and the
children have remained close by.
Gabby (42) is married with two children (ages 15 and 10) and
works as an office
manager at a large doctors’ practice.
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 2
Christina (35) is married with three children (ages 10, 6, and 4).
She is a full-time
mom.
Tommy (29) is engaged to a woman he met while living in a
transitional adult
community for individuals with Down syndrome. He works as a
production
assistant at a large non-profit organization.
The extended family spends holidays and children’s birthdays
together, and

7. Jeannette often helps out with childcare for both of her
daughters’ children.
Miguel and Jeannette have come to see you seeking some
guidance in resolving
what Jeannette calls “Miguel’s late-life crisis.” She shares that
she is very content
with her life right now and with the routine that goes along with
it. She adds that
she feels like she’s “earned” this period in her life, where she
can enjoy her
grandchildren, be available for Tommy if he needs her, and
“finally relax a little.”
Jeannette also adds that she has always had a vision of her
“golden years” to
include lazy days on a front porch rocking chair, watching
grandkids and sipping
iced tea—unlike Miguel, who she claims is trying to “regain his
long-lost youth.”
Miguel responds to this by saying that he loves his wife very
much and
appreciates her vision of “old age,” but he doesn’t think he is
“old” yet. He tells
you that they are finally in a place where they can go where
they want and do as
they please, but Jeannette never wants to do anything.
Miguel also shares that all of his children were a blessing, but
being a parent was
very hard and very draining, and he wants to have their time
now. He wants to
travel and to try things he’s never tried before—like skydiving.
Jeannette rolls her
eyes at this and claims that Miguel “just can’t accept getting

8. old.”
[Reeves Family]
General Background:
The Reeves family consists of Lucas, John, Justin, and Emme.
Lucas’ wife,
Anne, left him and the children shortly after Emme was born.
The family is Caucasian and of mixed European ethnic descent.
Their faith is Protestant, although Lucas notes that they do not
attend church
regularly.
Lucas also shares that the he has no family in the area to help
him with the
children, and he often feels overwhelmed.
Presenting Issues:
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 3
It’s been a couple years since you last saw Lucas.
Lucas’ father moved in with the family shortly after Lucas’
mother passed away
following a battle with cancer. Lucas asked his dad to move in
with the family so
his father would not be alone, but also so he could help out with
Lucas’ children.

9. Jacob (or “Grandpa Jake” as everyone calls him) is 68 years old
and has been
retired for several years. Jake comes to see you at Lucas’
insistence and tells
you immediately that he thinks counseling is “a bunch of
hooey…no disrespect
intended.” He tells you that just because he’s forgotten a few
things here and
there, Lucas is “all up in arms” and worried that something is
wrong with Jake.
He also admits that he’s “been a little moody lately” but adds
that “[He’s] old –
[he’s] allowed to be!” and chuckles.
Jake tells you of a recent incident in which he and Lucas “got
into it a bit” over
Jake’s accusation that John, his grandson, stole a book out of
his room. Jake
tells you that John was the only one who would have taken it,
and Lucas is just
covering for his son. He goes on a short tangent about Lucas’
lenient parenting
and says that it wasn’t the first time something like that has
happened.
While he speaks, you note that Jake refers to the table in your
office as a chair
and refers to Emme as “Ella.” You do not share these
observations with Jake,
instead validating his concerns and frustrations.
As you chat more with Jake in an effort to get to know him, you
ask casual
questions about his late wife—Jake’s answers are inconsistent
and he seems
confused when answering. He suddenly becomes uncomfortable

10. and asks when
the session will be over.
[Jeong Family]
General Background:
The Jeong family consists of Kimball (“Kim,” a physician),
Meg (a nurse), Steven,
Kelsey, and Joey.
The family is of Korean descent and describes themselves as
“very
Americanized.”
They are Christian Buddhists and embrace their faith strongly.
Both Kim’s and Meg’s extended families live within about an
hour of the Jeongs,
providing the family with both support and unsolicited advice.
Presenting Issues:
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 4
Kelsey is now 65 years old.
Following her difficult divorce from Jin, Kelsey struggled for a
while but eventually
found a niche for herself by creating an online craft supplies
company. The
company expanded into digital products and services and
became very

11. successful.
At this point, Kelsey works few hours, as she has hired people
to work for her
and run the day-to-day operations of the company. Kelsey
remains the CEO but
enjoys a lifestyle she calls “every person’s dream”—she travels
frequently and
remains very active. In fact, she is training for a masters sprint
triathlon, about
which she is very excited. She shares that just this past weekend
she learned
how to surf with her “new beau.”
She sighs a bit at this last part, and the mood turns sullen.
Kelsey shares that
she has been having conflicts with her daughters recently, as
they do not
approve of her “lifestyle.” The girls do not think it’s “proper”
for her mother to date
much younger men or to be “globetrotting” around all the time.
They have told
Kelsey that she pushes herself too hard and does not take proper
care of her
body.
Kelsey denies this and tells you, “Yes, I know my bones are a
bit brittle and my
joints a bit weak, and maybe my eyesight isn’t what it used to
be…but I am going
to live life while I still have it!”
She is disappointed that her girls do not understand this and
wishes they were
more supportive. Kelsey also shares that the girls don’t seem to
judge their

12. father, who at 68 is coaching his 10-year-old son’s soccer team
(“Can you
believe that?” she asks rhetorically, “His grandkids are older
than his son!!”).
Kesley also shares with you that she enjoys a very active sex
life, which her
daughters think is appalling (“I think they are jealous!” she
says). Kelsey does
admit that she has a few concerns in the relationship arena,
including how to
maintain her sex drive and how to compensate for some of the
biological
changes she has experienced without “killing the mood.”
You continue to gather information about Kelsey’s present
concerns and
experiences and ask her what she specifically wants you to help
her with. She
responds, “I want to figure out how to make my girls respect
me, my choices, and
my life.”
[Crane Family]
General Background:
The Crane family consists of Carol, Hunter, and Olivia.
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 5
Carol is a single mother living in the inner city under very poor
conditions.

13. Although she has a job, she barely makes ends meet. She cannot
afford good
food, nor can she afford to live in a safer area. She currently
lives in a subsidized
housing development.
The family is Caucasian, of European descent, and agnostic.
Presenting Issues:
Carol is now 67 years old and is facing retirement. She has
come to see you
because she feels “lost” as she faces this transition.
For the past 20 years, Carol has been working for a local
healthcare system and
has worked her way up to the Director of Community Outreach.
She feels good
about her success but acknowledges that—because it came later
in life—she is
not well prepared financially for her retirement. She also notes
that she “has no
idea what [she] will do with her time” once she is no longer
working every day.
Carol is divorced now, as well; she was married for about 8
years to a man she
describes as “a kind man, but a mistake for me.” She shares that
she never
intended to grow old alone, and with the children and
grandchildren living far
away, she is often lonely.
Carol sighs and states, “Sometimes I just wonder what my
purpose on this Earth
is.”

14. [Anderson Family]
General Background:
The Anderson family consists of grandparents Ernie and
Audrey, Jamal
(diagnosed with Asperger’s disorder), Marcus, and Artesia.
Ernie and Audrey gained custody of their three grandchildren
after their daughter
and her husband were killed in a car accident. Their daughter
and her husband—
the parents of the children—had been living with them prior to
the accident, as
they had fallen on hard times after both parents lost their jobs
and subsequently
had to give up their home.
The family is African American, Southern Baptist, and very
involved in their
church.
Presenting Issues:
Audrey (now 72) has come to see you at her grandchildren’s
insistence, following
the sudden loss of Ernie.
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 6
Two months ago, Ernie passed away from complications
following a massive

15. heart attack. Audrey has not been sleeping or eating well and
rarely leaves the
house. Her grandchildren are very worried about her, although
Audrey insists she
just misses Ernie and is doing fine.
She tells you that it helps to know that her grandchildren are
happy and healthy,
and she enjoys the pictures of the great-grandchildren that they
send her on a
regular basis. Audrey wishes that her grandchildren and their
families lived
closer, but she understands that they “have their own families
now.”
As you chat with Audrey, you also learn that her two closest
friends—long-time
confidants and fellow church members—also passed away
within the last year.
Audrey sighs and says, “Sure, I’m lonely, but I know I will be
with Ernie and my
Holy Father soon.”
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1
“Late Adulthood”
Program Transcript

16. Instructions:
Post by Day 4 a description of two developmental factors that
impact late
adulthood. Explain how these factors might impact emotional
and psychological
well-being. Then, describe a protective factor that could
optimize the older adult’s
health and resilience. Justify your response with references to
this week’s
Learning Resources and the current literature. Be specific.
Respond by Day 7 to at least two of your colleagues using one
or more of the
following approaches:
Select a colleague who was assigned a different client than you.
Suggest at least
one counseling goal or strategy he or she might use to support
the health and
resilience of the older adult.
Select a colleague who was assigned the same client as you.
Contrast your
conceptualizations of the client’s developmental factors and
state of well-being.
[Martinez Family]
General Background:
The Martinez family consists of Miguel, Jeannette, Gabby,
Tommy, and Christina
(the adopted daughter of Jeannette’s cousin).

17. The family’s ethnicity is Hispanic, and both Miguel and
Jeannette come from very
large extended families—many of whom live in the area.
They are Seventh-Day Adventists who are very involved in their
church; they
both hold leadership positions in the church and attend services
multiple times
each week.
Presenting Issues:
It’s been over 10 years since the Martinez family lost their
home and friends in
the tornado, and the family is doing well.
Miguel (70) and Jeannette (72) live in a small home in the area
now, and the
children have remained close by.
Gabby (42) is married with two children (ages 15 and 10) and
works as an office
manager at a large doctors’ practice.
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 2
Christina (35) is married with three children (ages 10, 6, and 4).
She is a full-time
mom.
Tommy (29) is engaged to a woman he met while living in a
transitional adult
community for individuals with Down syndrome. He works as a

18. production
assistant at a large non-profit organization.
The extended family spends holidays and children’s birthdays
together, and
Jeannette often helps out with childcare for both of her
daughters’ children.
Miguel and Jeannette have come to see you seeking some
guidance in resolving
what Jeannette calls “Miguel’s late-life crisis.” She shares that
she is very content
with her life right now and with the routine that goes along with
it. She adds that
she feels like she’s “earned” this period in her life, where she
can enjoy her
grandchildren, be available for Tommy if he needs her, and
“finally relax a little.”
Jeannette also adds that she has always had a vision of her
“golden years” to
include lazy days on a front porch rocking chair, watching
grandkids and sipping
iced tea—unlike Miguel, who she claims is trying to “regain his
long-lost youth.”
Miguel responds to this by saying that he loves his wife very
much and
appreciates her vision of “old age,” but he doesn’t think he is
“old” yet. He tells
you that they are finally in a place where they can go where
they want and do as
they please, but Jeannette never wants to do anything.
Miguel also shares that all of his children were a blessing, but
being a parent was

19. very hard and very draining, and he wants to have their time
now. He wants to
travel and to try things he’s never tried before—like skydiving.
Jeannette rolls her
eyes at this and claims that Miguel “just can’t accept getting
old.”
[Reeves Family]
General Background:
The Reeves family consists of Lucas, John, Justin, and Emme.
Lucas’ wife,
Anne, left him and the children shortly after Emme was born.
The family is Caucasian and of mixed European ethnic descent.
Their faith is Protestant, although Lucas notes that they do not
attend church
regularly.
Lucas also shares that the he has no family in the area to help
him with the
children, and he often feels overwhelmed.
Presenting Issues:
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 3
It’s been a couple years since you last saw Lucas.
Lucas’ father moved in with the family shortly after Lucas’
mother passed away

20. following a battle with cancer. Lucas asked his dad to move in
with the family so
his father would not be alone, but also so he could help out with
Lucas’ children.
Jacob (or “Grandpa Jake” as everyone calls him) is 68 years old
and has been
retired for several years. Jake comes to see you at Lucas’
insistence and tells
you immediately that he thinks counseling is “a bunch of
hooey…no disrespect
intended.” He tells you that just because he’s forgotten a few
things here and
there, Lucas is “all up in arms” and worried that something is
wrong with Jake.
He also admits that he’s “been a little moody lately” but adds
that “[He’s] old –
[he’s] allowed to be!” and chuckles.
Jake tells you of a recent incident in which he and Lucas “got
into it a bit” over
Jake’s accusation that John, his grandson, stole a book out of
his room. Jake
tells you that John was the only one who would have taken it,
and Lucas is just
covering for his son. He goes on a short tangent about Lucas’
lenient parenting
and says that it wasn’t the first time something like that has
happened.
While he speaks, you note that Jake refers to the table in your
office as a chair
and refers to Emme as “Ella.” You do not share these
observations with Jake,
instead validating his concerns and frustrations.

21. As you chat more with Jake in an effort to get to know him, you
ask casual
questions about his late wife—Jake’s answers are inconsistent
and he seems
confused when answering. He suddenly becomes uncomfortable
and asks when
the session will be over.
[Jeong Family]
General Background:
The Jeong family consists of Kimball (“Kim,” a physician),
Meg (a nurse), Steven,
Kelsey, and Joey.
The family is of Korean descent and describes themselves as
“very
Americanized.”
They are Christian Buddhists and embrace their faith strongly.
Both Kim’s and Meg’s extended families live within about an
hour of the Jeongs,
providing the family with both support and unsolicited advice.
Presenting Issues:
© 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 4
Kelsey is now 65 years old.
Following her difficult divorce from Jin, Kelsey struggled for a

22. while but eventually
found a niche for herself by creating an online craft supplies
company. The
company expanded into digital products and services and
became very
successful.
At this point, Kelsey works few hours, as she has hired people
to work for her
and run the day-to-day operations of the company. Kelsey
remains the CEO but
enjoys a lifestyle she calls “every person’s dream”—she travels
frequently and
remains very active. In fact, she is training for a masters sprint
triathlon, about
which she is very excited. She shares that just this past weekend
she learned
how to surf with her “new beau.”
She sighs a bit at this last part, and the mood turns sullen.
Kelsey shares that
she has been having conflicts with her daughters recently, as
they do not
approve of her “lifestyle.” The girls do not think it’s “proper”
for her mother to date
much younger men or to be “globetrotting” around all the time.
They have told
Kelsey that she pushes herself too hard and does not take proper
care of her
body.
Kelsey denies this and tells you, “Yes, I know my bones are a
bit brittle and my
joints a bit weak, and maybe my eyesight isn’t what it used to
be…but I am going
to live life while I still have it!”

23. She is disappointed that her girls do not understand this and
wishes they were
more supportive. Kelsey also shares that the girls don’t seem to
judge their
father, who at 68 is coaching his 10-year-old son’s soccer team
(“Can you
believe that?” she asks rhetorically, “His grandkids are older
than his son!!”).
Kesley also shares with you that she enjoys a very active sex
life, which her
daughters think is appalling (“I think they are jealous!” she
says). Kelsey does
admit that she has a few concerns in the relationship arena,
including how to
maintain her sex drive and how to compensate for some of the
biological
changes she has experienced without “killing the mood.”
You continue to gather information about Kelsey’s present
concerns and
experiences and ask her what she specifically wants you to help
her with. She
responds, “I want to figure out how to make my girls respect
me, my choices, and
my life.”
[Crane Family]
General Background:
The Crane family consists of Carol, Hunter, and Olivia.

24. © 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 5
Carol is a single mother living in the inner city under very poor
conditions.
Although she has a job, she barely makes ends meet. She cannot
afford good
food, nor can she afford to live in a safer area. She currently
lives in a subsidized
housing development.
The family is Caucasian, of European descent, and agnostic.
Presenting Issues:
Carol is now 67 years old and is facing retirement. She has
come to see you
because she feels “lost” as she faces this transition.
For the past 20 years, Carol has been working for a local
healthcare system and
has worked her way up to the Director of Community Outreach.
She feels good
about her success but acknowledges that—because it came later
in life—she is
not well prepared financially for her retirement. She also notes
that she “has no
idea what [she] will do with her time” once she is no longer
working every day.
Carol is divorced now, as well; she was married for about 8
years to a man she
describes as “a kind man, but a mistake for me.” She shares that
she never
intended to grow old alone, and with the children and
grandchildren living far

25. away, she is often lonely.
Carol sighs and states, “Sometimes I just wonder what my
purpose on this Earth
is.”
[Anderson Family]
General Background:
The Anderson family consists of grandparents Ernie and
Audrey, Jamal
(diagnosed with Asperger’s disorder), Marcus, and Artesia.
Ernie and Audrey gained custody of their three grandchildren
after their daughter
and her husband were killed in a car accident. Their daughter
and her husband—
the parents of the children—had been living with them prior to
the accident, as
they had fallen on hard times after both parents lost their jobs
and subsequently
had to give up their home.
The family is African American, Southern Baptist, and very
involved in their
church.
Presenting Issues:
Audrey (now 72) has come to see you at her grandchildren’s
insistence, following
the sudden loss of Ernie.

26. © 2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 6
Two months ago, Ernie passed away from complications
following a massive
heart attack. Audrey has not been sleeping or eating well and
rarely leaves the
house. Her grandchildren are very worried about her, although
Audrey insists she
just misses Ernie and is doing fine.
She tells you that it helps to know that her grandchildren are
happy and healthy,
and she enjoys the pictures of the great-grandchildren that they
send her on a
regular basis. Audrey wishes that her grandchildren and their
families lived
closer, but she understands that they “have their own families
now.”
As you chat with Audrey, you also learn that her two closest
friends—long-time
confidants and fellow church members—also passed away
within the last year.
Audrey sighs and says, “Sure, I’m lonely, but I know I will be
with Ernie and my
Holy Father soon.”