Freud developed a frame work for understanding the process of human development and broke down the various stages of childhood development into The Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency & Adolescence. This essay focuses on the second stage of development The Anal stage. I will describe how various factors within this period may affect development in later life and in conclusion how this might affect the counselling relationship.

The Process of the Anal Stage of Development

Perhaps the biggest influencing factor in a person's life is their childhood. An adult has the capability to make conscious decisions and develop attitudes to life where as a developing child's world is dominated by parents or significant primary care figures e.g " Mother is the name for God on the lips and hearts of small children" (Brandon Lee, Film: The Crow 1995)

A child has no experience of life to base their beliefs on - no way of understanding weather they are experiencing a positive or negative influence. To a child their world simply is what it is.

I believe to be a successful counsellor for an Anal or any other type of character then one must also be an accomplished gardener of ones own garden. There is no point trying to help your neighbour remove his weeds if your own garden is full of them - seeds will blow over the fence and take root in your neighbours garden defeating the object and perhaps even making it worse.

The anal stage generally occurs around the second and third years of life. It is a period of immense change when a child moves from being completely helpless to gaining coordination & control over muscles, independent movement, more refined communication skills and a widening of the child's world towards independence & autonomy.

Difficulties encountered in Counselling

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2033
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)