Adlerian TherapyAdlerian Therapy

Alfred Adler 1870-1937Alfred Adler 1870-1937Born in Vienna middle class Jewish familyBorn in Vienna middle class Jewish family22ndnd of six children-profound influence of six children-profound influenceFelt in shadow of his older brother Felt in shadow of his older brother Suffered from child rickets, pneumoniaSuffered from child rickets, pneumoniaVery close to his father-no oedipal needVery close to his father-no oedipal needAfter World War I After World War I – – deep-seated concern for deep-seated concern for others and need to associate with themothers and need to associate with themMajor contributions include life assessments, birth Major contributions include life assessments, birth orderorder

Adler’s Individual PsychologyAdler’s Individual Psychology

Based on the unique motivations of individualsBased on the unique motivations of individualsImportance of each person’s perceived niche Importance of each person’s perceived niche in societyin societyImportance of goal directness of human Importance of goal directness of human nature – teleological aspectnature – teleological aspectConcern with social conditions-need to take Concern with social conditions-need to take preventive measures to avoid disturbances in preventive measures to avoid disturbances in personalitypersonalityPositive view of human naturePositive view of human nature

ComplexesComplexes

Inferiority Complex:Inferiority Complex: normal feelings of normal feelings of incompetence and exaggerates them-incompetence and exaggerates them-impossible to to achieve goals-hopeless. impossible to to achieve goals-hopeless. This helps us desire to move forward and This helps us desire to move forward and accomplish goalsaccomplish goals

Superiority Complex:Superiority Complex: very high opinion of very high opinion of self-bragging and quick to argue personal self-bragging and quick to argue personal solutions to problems are right one-convince solutions to problems are right one-convince others of being valuable to them and to selfothers of being valuable to them and to self

Human Behavior is Human Behavior is motivated by…motivated by…

Perfection striving: Perfection striving: people who are not people who are not neurotically bound to an inferiority complex neurotically bound to an inferiority complex spend their lives trying to meet their spend their lives trying to meet their fictional fictional goals.goals.– Living the “as if” philosophyLiving the “as if” philosophy– Elimination of their perceived flawsElimination of their perceived flaws– Gives motivation and focusGives motivation and focusSocial Interest and Community FeelingSocial Interest and Community Feeling – Occupational tasks-career-self-worthOccupational tasks-career-self-worth– Societal task-creating friendships-networksSocietal task-creating friendships-networks– Love tasks-life partnerLove tasks-life partner

Most Important Contribution by Most Important Contribution by AdlerAdler

Social Interest and Community Social Interest and Community FeelingFeeling: individuals awareness of being a : individuals awareness of being a part of a community and attitude towards part of a community and attitude towards dealing with the social worlddealing with the social world– Occupational tasks-career-self-worthOccupational tasks-career-self-worth– Societal task-creating friendships-Societal task-creating friendships-

networksnetworks– Love tasks-life partnerLove tasks-life partner

Adler’s Birth OrderAdler’s Birth OrderRole of Birth Order-Role of Birth Order-motivates later behaviormotivates later behavior– First-born: favored, only, pseudo-parent-high achieversFirst-born: favored, only, pseudo-parent-high achievers– Second-born: rivalry & competitionSecond-born: rivalry & competition– Middle child: “squeezed out”; peacemaker; victimizedMiddle child: “squeezed out”; peacemaker; victimized– Last-born: more pampered, “baby”-creative, rebellious, Last-born: more pampered, “baby”-creative, rebellious,

revolutionary, avant-garderevolutionary, avant-garde– Only child: similar characteristics of oldest child; Only child: similar characteristics of oldest child;

selfish; relates better to adults than peers; requires selfish; relates better to adults than peers; requires attention at all timesattention at all times

What’s your What’s your

Birth order???Birth order???

Therapists RoleTherapists RoleCollaborative relationship with Collaborative relationship with mutually agreed upon goalsmutually agreed upon goalsCheerleader- encourages client to Cheerleader- encourages client to uncover faulty assumptions and uncover faulty assumptions and highlight mistaken goals; highlights highlight mistaken goals; highlights strengths and assets of clientstrengths and assets of clientInformation is gathered through Information is gathered through family constellation, early family constellation, early recollections, and life assessmentrecollections, and life assessment

Unhealthy Behavior is due to…Unhealthy Behavior is due to…

Client’s inability to see faulty goals Client’s inability to see faulty goals and/or assumptionsand/or assumptions

Client is discouraged and does not Client is discouraged and does not feel valued in society, or is not being feel valued in society, or is not being a productive member of societya productive member of society

Client is seen as non-pathological Client is seen as non-pathological and is not viewed from clinical or and is not viewed from clinical or diagnostic viewpointdiagnostic viewpoint

Stages of TherapyStages of Therapy1. Establishing the relationship1. Establishing the relationship– Rapport building through empathic listening, Rapport building through empathic listening,

validation. validation. 2. Exploring the Client’s Dynamics2. Exploring the Client’s Dynamics– Subjective interview: client’s storySubjective interview: client’s story– Objective interview: understanding problemsObjective interview: understanding problems3. Encouraging Self-Understanding and 3. Encouraging Self-Understanding and InsightInsight– Disclosure and interpretationDisclosure and interpretation4. Reorientation4. Reorientation– Putting insight into practicePutting insight into practice