Adlerian Therapy

1. Adlerian Therapy

2. Adlerian Therapy introduced by Alfred Adler • Similar to Freud’s belief that personalities are formed in early years, by age 6 • Adlerian Theory emphasizes the Social nature of the individual

3. Adlerian Theory • Adler believed that an individual’s “psychological health can be measured by the contribution that individuals make to their community and to society” (Sharf, 2002, p.119).

4. Social Interest • Adler believed the mother-child bond was the first and most significant relationship in the development of social interest. • Any dysfunction in a mother-child or father-child relationship can bring about a lack of social interest in a child.

5. Style of Life • Adler defined lifestyle as how an individual creatively solves problems and achieves goals. • Adler believed that a style of life is established in childhood.

6. Adler describes 4 types of people • Socially useful type – high social interest and high degree of activity (amount of energy an individual displays for dealing with problems) • Ruling type – low social-interest – yet ruling i.e. thieves, drug addicts • Getting type – low social interest – looks to receive rather than give • Avoiding type – low social interest – low activity levels – may be looked upon as shy, lonely

7. Inferiority and Superiority • Throughout life, a child strives to become more independent and self-sufficient –from inferiority to superiority. • Three factors can hinder a child’s development : physical disabilities, pampering, and neglect.

8. Inferiority and Superiority • If an individual does not overcome feelings of inferiority, a person may develop inferiority complex. • Adler described how individuals try to overcome this “less than” feeling by actually “inflating one’s self-importance in order to overcome these inferiority feelings.”

9. Birth order • Adler believed that the place the child was in the family determined how the individual would develop a style of life and social interest. • Exact birth order was not necessary, but the perceived role in the family was more important.

10. Adler’s Goals in Therapy and Counseling • To increase social interest

11. Assessment • Evaluate Family Dynamics – interactions with the family • Early Recollections – Adler believed that we remember events in our lives for a reason – they had an impact on us in some way • Dreams- especially childhood and recurrent dreams

12. Basic Mistakes • Adler believed that these flaws in thinking are due to some earlier events or experiences.

13. Five Basic Mistakes • Overgeneralizations- “all”, “should”, “always”; He “should” like me. • False or impossible goals of security – “I can’t trust anyone.” • Misperceptions of life’s demands- “Life’s too hard.” • Minimization or denial of one’s worth- “I don’t matter.” • Faulty Values – “I have to steal because I have no money.”

14. Assets • Adler believes that it is important to evaluate and illustrate to the client the good things that are working in their life. An example of assets could be a strong family, academic or vocational skills, special abilities/or talents.

15. Insight and Interpretation • Adler believed that it wasn’t useful to point out psychological problems to the client (such as a lack of confidence). • He believed rather in asking questions for the client to ponder. This way, the client would not become defensive or offended. • Questions such as “Have you thought of..” or “Is it possible..?”

16. Reorientation Phase • In therapy, insights from early recollections, family constellations, and dreams are analyzed. • Patient now has insight and work can be done to develop goals, make changes in actions, and take risks in their lives (with therapist’s encouragement).

17. Encouragement and Creativity • Acting “as if” • Catching Oneself • “The Question” • Spitting in the client’s soup • Avoiding the tar baby • Push-Button technique • Paradoxical intention

18. Closing Process of Therapy • Action-oriented approaches with goals and homework assigned to accomplish task • Goals are assigned to help client with the five major tasks in life: love, occupation, society, self-development, spiritual development

19. Text Reference • Sharf R. S.(2004). L. Gebo (Ed.), Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.