The experience of puberty

Summary

Shirley Hoxter explores the psychological experience of puberty through the psychotherapy of three adolescents who experienced significant anxiety in response to their sexual and physical development. She focuses on how the rapid changes of puberty can challenge an adolescent’s existing sense of identity and create conflicts around sexuality, the body, and relationships.

The paper shows that pubertal development is not only a biological process but also an important psychological transition. Adolescents may struggle to integrate their changing bodies and emerging sexual feelings with their previous self-image. Hoxter emphasizes the role of psychotherapy in helping adolescents understand these anxieties and gradually develop a more integrated sense of themselves.