Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy TENTH EDITION Gerald Corey Cengage Learning

CHAPTER 5 Adlerian Therapy

Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology (slide 1 of 2) For Adler, Individual Psychology meant indivisible psychology Is based on the concept of holism Is a phenomenological approach Provides a teleological explanation of human behavior Stresses social interest Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (1)

Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology (slide 2 of 2) Focuses on birth order and sibling relationships Therapy involves teaching, informing, and encouraging Considers basic mistakes in the client’s private logic The therapeutic relationship is a collaborative partnership Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (2)

The Phenomenological Approach The world is seen from the client’s subjective frame of reference How life is in reality is less important than how we believe life to be Our present interpretation of childhood experiences matters more than the actual events Unconscious instincts and our past do not determine our behavior Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (3)

Social Interest Adler’s most significant and distinctive concept Embodies a community feeling and the capacity to cooperate and contribute to something bigger than oneself Mental health is measured by the degree to which we share with others and are concerned with their welfare People express social interest through shared activity, cooperation, participation in the common good, and mutual respect Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (4)

Lifestyle (slide 1 of 2) One’s perceptions regarding self, others, and the world Characteristic way we think, act, feel, perceive, and live A life movement that organizes our reality, giving meaning to life “fictional finalism” or “guiding self ideal” Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (5)

Lifestyle (slide 2 of 2) Faulty interpretations may lead to mistaken notions in our “private logic” Lifestyle is how we move toward our life goals Unifies behaviors to provide consistency and makes all our actions “fit together” Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (6)

The Life Tasks We must successfully master three universal life tasks: Building friendships (social task) Establishing intimacy (love–marriage task) Contributing to society (occupational task) Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (7)

Inferiority and Superiority Inferiority Feelings Are normal and a source of all human striving Are the wellspring of creativity Develop when we are young—characterized by early feelings of hopelessness Superiority Feelings Promote mastery and enable us to overcome obstacles Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (8)

Birth Order Five psychological positions: 1) Oldest child– receives more attention, spoiled, center of attention 2) Second of only two– behaves as if in a race, often opposite to first child 3) Middle– often feels squeezed out 4) Youngest– the baby 5) Only– does not learn to share or cooperate with other children, learns to deal with adults Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (9)

Four Phases of Therapy (slide 1 of 4) Phase 1: Establishing the Proper Therapeutic Relationship Supportive, collaborative, educational, encouraging process Person-to-person contact with the client precedes identification of the problem Help client build awareness of his or her strengths Life style – convictions developed early in life, to help them understand, predict control experiences… Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (10)

Four Phases of Therapy (slide 2 of 4) Phase 2: Exploring the Individual’s Psychological Dynamics Lifestyle assessment Subjective interview Objective interview Family constellation Early recollections Basic mistakes Life style – convictions developed early in life, to help them understand, predict control experiences… Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (11)

Four Phases of Therapy (slide 3 of 4) Phase 3: Encouraging Self-Understanding/Insight Interpret the findings of the assessment Hidden goals and purposes of behavior are made conscious Therapist offers interpretations to help clients gain insight into their private logic and lifestyle Life style – convictions developed early in life, to help them understand, predict control experiences… Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (12)

Four Phases of Therapy (slide 4 of 4) Phase 4: Reorientation and Re-education Action-oriented phase; emphasis is on putting insights into practice Clients are reoriented toward the useful side of life Clients are encouraged to act as if they were the people they want to be Life style – convictions developed early in life, to help them understand, predict control experiences… Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (13)

Encouragement Encouragement is the most distinctive intervention and is central to all phases of Adlerian therapy It is a fundamental attitude more than a technique Expecting clients to assume responsibility for their lives builds their self-confidence and courage Discouragement is the basic condition that prevents people from functioning Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (14)

Adlerian Techniques Avoiding the traps Immediacy Confrontation Advice Use of stories and fables Early recollection analysis Lifestyle assessment Encouraging Task setting and commitment Homework Terminating and summarizing Immediacy Advice Humor Silence Paradoxical intention Acting as if Catching oneself Push-button technique Externalization Reauthoring Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (15)

Application to Group Counseling Group provides a social context in which members can develop a sense of community and social-relatedness Sharing of early recollections increases group cohesiveness Action-oriented strategies for behavior change are implemented to help group members work together to challenge erroneous beliefs about self, life, and others Employs a time-limited framework Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (16)

Other Areas of Application Child guidance School psychology and counseling Parent education Couples and family counseling Cultural conflicts Correctional and rehabilitation counseling The community mental health movement Mental health institutions Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (17)

Strengths from a Diversity Perspective (slide 1 of 2) Adlerian therapy focuses on multicultural and social justice issues and addresses the concerns of a contemporary global society Concepts of age, ethnicity, lifestyle, sexual/affectional orientations, and gender differences emerge in therapy Adlerians focus on cooperation and socially oriented values Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (18)

Strengths from a Diversity Perspective (slide 2 of 2) Adlerians investigate culture in much the same way that they approach birth order and family atmosphere The approach offers flexibility in applying cognitive and action-oriented techniques to help clients explore their problems in a cultural context Adler was one of the first psychologists at the turn of the century to advocate equality for women Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (19)

Limitations from a Diversity Perspective The approach focuses on the self as the locus of change and responsibility, which may be problematic for some clients Exploring past childhood experiences, early memories, family experiences, and dreams may not appeal to all If clients expect the therapist to be the “expert,” they may be dissatisfied with the Adlerian’s collaborative stance Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (20)

Contributions of Adlerian Therapy This approach is flexible and integrative; it allows for the use of relational, cognitive, behavioral, emotive, and experiential techniques It is suited to brief, time-limited therapy Many of Adler’s ideas were revolutionary and far ahead of his time. Many of his ideas have found their way into most of the other therapeutic approaches Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (21)

Limitations of the Adlerian Approach Adler spent most of his time teaching his theory as opposed to systematically documenting it Many of Adler’s ideas are vague and general, which makes it difficult to conduct research on some concepts Although brilliant in many ways, Adler was not scholarly Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 5 (22)