The theoretical approach we chose to follow is the Developmental Approach, specifically Levinson’s Three Life Transitions. Levinson’s approach focuses on the main transitions between developmental stages of adult life (Cole, 2012). Our population includes patients in an outpatient mental health unit with an onset of depression that arose at the time of their retirement. Levinson’s approach fits this population well because the Late Life Transition occurs around age 60-65 and focuses on the loss of a productive role, which for this group, is the loss of their working role to contribute to society. The approach matches the goals established because they intend to fill the void in the clients by establishing a new productive role through volunteering.
