The works of Kegan and Guidano have presented cognition and emotion as complementary modes of knowing that develop together. Cognition is conceived of as being concerned with the knowledge of reality, and emotions are conceptualized as people's system for knowing of their relationship to that reality. Adult children of dysfunctional families are a pluralistic group yet share certain characteristics of self-centeredness, dishonesty, fear, and physical illness. Intense emotional arousal interferes with effective thinking, and distorted thinking propagates inappropiate emotional arousal. Over time these patterns are identified with different types of patterns that inhibit further adaptive development. There are methods which facilitate the growth of individuals beyond their functioning. The role of a therapist in this process usually involves challenging the world views of the client. Ivey (1986, 1988) suggests facilitating the client's construction of new world views using a neo-Piagetian schema for identifying the level of cognitive operations at which the client is functioning. Adult children of dysfunctional families are often pained and confused survivors who welcome a chance for freedom from the bondage of their own viewpoints and the joy of becoming. (ABL)