This book presents Stage Climbing, an innovative seven stage developmental model as a new tool to help practitioners recognize cognitions, attitudes and behaviors-- typical of different life stages and thus levels of maturity-- in order to select the most effective treatment interventions with adult clients. It is the first book to integrate cognitive behavioral (CBT) concepts into the entire human development spectrum for any area of life that clients choose to work on. It demonstrates how resistance to change can reflect thinking and behavioral patterns that are characteristic of earlier developmental stages. It also presents a model of maturity along with treatment strategies and action steps to motivate change, as well as reactivate a client's natural and organic maturation process. Practitioners at all levels from diverse disciplines and modalities will learn to assess how, why, and where clients are "stuck" developmentally. This volume offers practitioners, who treat individuals, couples and/or families a psychologically integrated road map that guides clients to take responsibility for living their best life, by removing self-created obstacles which prevent this from occurring naturally. The integration of the most robust aspects of psychodynamics, developmental psychology, and cognitive behavioral therapy will help the field continue to evolve, by providing state of the art interventions to help clients make mature and healthy changes in their lives. All mental health practitioners, regardless of their therapeutic orientations can use the strategies in this book to assess the underlying core belief patterns of clients at each life stage, and apply appropriate interventions to challenge self-defeating beliefs, and proactively work on agreed upon desired outcomes.

"Kit Summers - hit by a truck twice and a survivor of a thirty-seven day coma - offers a way for others to overcome any obstacle in Beyond Your Potential. His dedication to helping others live the lives of their dreams is exceptional. Even the most devastating losses can be transformed into human growth and potential. This simple manual is a guidebook to life." - Pamela Wible, MD "Kit's book is written with a passion that comes from his own life's experience of successfully dealing with the horrific happenings to his body and brain that he endured and overcame. His world class talent to juggle has helped him do just that - juggle the many challenges forced upon him. Kit knows what you can do to Go Beyond Your Potential by following his hard earned advice. He has created a practical program that works." - Sir Ken Miller Kit Summers is an inspiration to me. He is the best example I know of someone who has come through major tragedy not once, not twice, but three times. He kept on not only surviving but thriving as a successful man who never gave up on himself. Kit has written this inspiring book that has not only inspired me where I am, but will inspire you as well. Thank you Kit " - Julia McCoy Pavlicek "With every moment that passes in our life we can choose to rise above the challenges we face and be a better version of ourselves or we can choose to feel sorry for ourselves and give up on life. In Beyond Your Potential, Kit Summers will inspire you with his amazing ability to rise above far greater challenges than most people will ever face and teach you the lessons he's learned along the way." - Shari McGuire "Kit Summers has written a highly inspirational book that will get reader to stop seeing themselves as victims and instead proactively start taking charge go their lives. He has walked the walk and by putting his action steps and folk wisdom to use, so will you." - Michel S. Broder, Ph.D