Adlerian Therapy
Adlerian therapy, commonly referred to as Individual Psychology, focuses on interpreting an individual's actions and psychological challenges through an understanding of their unique life experiences, social interactions, and subjective views. By establishing a collaborative therapeutic connection and encouraging the individual to aspire for a sense of superiority and community belonging, the therapy seeks to boost social interest, investigate an individual's lifestyle choices, and encourage personal progress.
Adlerian Therapists use roleplays, logic, and other experiential techniques to help clients adopt new, more constructive behaviors and perspectives.
History
Adlerian therapy, also known as individual psychology, is a psychotherapeutic approach founded by Alfred Adler (1870–1937), an Austrian psychiatrist, in the early 20th century. Adler started his career in 1895 as an ophthalmologist before transitioning towards psychiatry in the early 1900s. He was fascinated by Sigmund Freud's thoughts on human behaviour and bravely maintained the psychoanalytic ideas that had been heavily criticized. Adler was welcomed into Freud's inner circle—an exclusive Wednesday night discussion group regarded to be the beginning of the psychoanalytic movement—in 1907 by a grateful Freud. After Adler and Freud eventually split off over theoretical disagreements, Adler quickly launched the School of Individual Therapy and placed himself at the forefront of his own developing therapeutic method which emphasized on the uniqueness of each person's experiences and their innate drive to overcome feelings of inferiority and achieve a sense of purpose and significance.
Focus theme / core-concept
The core concept of Adlerian Therapy, developed by Alfred Adler, is the belief that individuals are inherently social beings driven by a fundamental need for belonging and significance. This therapeutic approach focuses on the understanding that human behavior is shaped by one's subjective perception of their experiences, the pursuit of personal and social superiority, and the striving for a sense of community. Adlerian Therapy seeks to help individuals gain insight into their unique lifestyle and coping strategies, fostering a sense of empowerment, encouraging the development of a more constructive and meaningful life narrative, and emphasizing the importance of social connectedness and cooperation in achieving personal growth and well-being.
Benefits
Improved Self-Esteem: Clients often experience an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence.
Better Relationships: Adlerian Therapy helps individuals build healthier, more satisfying relationships and improve their social interactions.
Informed Decision-Making: Clients gain the tools to make informed choices and feel empowered to create positive change in their lives.
Effective Coping Strategies: The therapy equips individuals with practical coping strategies to deal with life's challenges and stressors.
Life Satisfaction: Many individuals report an overall improvement in their quality of life, including increased happiness and a sense of fulfillment as they integrate the principles of Adlerian Therapy into their daily lives.
Goals
Increased Self-Awareness: Adlerian Therapy aims to help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their unique lifestyles and patterns of behavior.
Empowerment: The goal is to empower clients to take control of their lives, make positive choices, and set achievable goals.
Enhanced Social Connectedness: Adlerian Therapy seeks to improve social relationships and foster a sense of community and cooperation.
Personal Growth: It focuses on facilitating personal growth and development by fostering a sense of competence and self-worth.
Shift in Perspective: The goal is to encourage a more constructive and optimistic outlook on life, emphasizing strengths and resources.
Techniques
Engagement: Building a trusting relationship between the therapist and the patient.
Assessment: Examining a person's early childhood memories and family history.
"Act As If": This technique in Adlerian Therapy is a cognitive-behavioral approach designed to help clients change their behavior by encouraging them to act as if they already possess the desired traits or characteristics.
Immediacy: Asking the client to communicate events at the present moment.
Push button: Asking clients to remember a pleasant incident that they have experienced, become aware of feelings connected to it, and then switch to an unpleasant image and those feelings
