Adlerian Theory : Alfred Adler's Goals Of Therapy

This paper will carry out a comparative analysis of the two most important psychological therapies, the Adlerian Therapy and the Gestalt Therapy.

It is my goal to become a school counselor in a local high school. As a school counselor, it is also important to try and understand the different experiences that children go through in order to get through to them. After studying the different counseling theories, I have discovered that each theory is valid and there are ideas and techniques that I would use out of each of them. However, there are some theories more than others that I would use to guide me daily as a school counselor. Modern day counseling is equipped with a wide variety of therapies, techniques and approaches. The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast three approaches of therapy. Also in this essay the views of the person and the Therapeutic process will be

Adlerian theory and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may be thought to have many similarities. This may be because CBT is rooted in Adlerian theory (Sperry, 2017). This paper discusses Adlerian theory, then Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Both of these sections include the theoretical basis for, and interventions or techniques used, within each approach. Also discussed are key points specific to counseling in schools pertaining to, and skills necessary for counselors utilizing, each approach. This paper then explains the similarities and differences between Adlerian theory and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Adlerian psychotherapists often ask their clients about early recollections. What are the assumptions of this technique and how does it facilitate the therapeutic process?

The desired outcomes for reality therapy groups and Adlerian therapy groups are both similar and dissimilar to one another in varying ways. Reality theory groups seek to change a members“…being stuck in repetitive and nonproductive activities” and that failing to achieve their goals should not bring self-deprecation (Gladding, 2016, p. 334). Adlerian groups “emphasize social cooperation and teamwork…focusing primarily on the growth and actions of the individual within the group rather than the group itself” (p.

How to Speak How to Listen by Mortimer Adler discusses the best techniques to use while in an argument. According to Adler, ethos signifies one’s character. Ethos is present when one is trying to have a character that is fitting for the purpose at hand. Ethos includes making yourself attractive to the audience and proving to them that you are credible. An example of having ethos has a lot to do with how I would present myself to the audience. In order for them to believe that I am credible, I must look the part, that includes cleanliness, looking put together, and healthy. If the audience sees that you can take care of yourself, then they have a higher chance of believing that you can take care of them and their situation. Using ethos can also include presenting the audience with a personal story. This will fill them in with background information about myself and let them know how my character played out during whatever situation I spoke about. The situation would have to be similar to the one the audience is facing, in order for them to draw parallels and better understand how I would handle that particular event.

Adlerian, Cognitive Behavioral, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy are three major theories that are used today. All three theories have things that make them similar as well as different.

Alfred Adler was the founder of Adlerian Counseling. He was born in 1870 in the country of Austria. who gave his theory the name Individual Psychology, because he wanted people to see that his theory and methods were designed to help clients help themselves. He believed that everyone had and internal need to be a part of society, and a desire to contribute to that society. That everyone strives for perfection, and everyone initially feels inferior to everyone else. He believed that when that feeling is not overcome, inferiority complexes develop, and if a person tries to overcompensate for inferiority, the develop superiority complex.

Adlerian family therapists characterize their approach as motivation modification rather than behavior modification. During the last half of the 20th century, Adlerian therapist developed a wide range of parenting skills and interventions that constitute what is now called authoritative-responsive parenting or democratic child-rearing (Christensen, 2004).

The counseling style of Adlerian therapy is based on creating a positive therapeutic relationship. Establishing this relationship with Stan, is created in the initial phase. “A positive relationship is created by listening,

Good and bad experiences of early childhood shape our personality. The inner need to overcome inferiority is the drive for human behavior. Children grow up dependent on the parents, older siblings and sometime on some guardians, which causes feeling of inferiority among them. Their feeling to overcome this inferiority and become superior to others is the basic human drive for actions in all human beings. Those who are overwhelmed by the feeling of inferiority and never made to believe that they can act on their own are most venerable to the inferiority

Understand, interpret, direct. This statement is an oversimplification of sorts, but defines the essence of Adlerian psychotherapy. From this minimal overview of Adlerian theory, we can begin to elaborate and explore the intricacies of individual psychology. Adlerians are concerned with understanding the unique and private beliefs and strategies of the individual (private logic and mistaken notions) that we create in childhood, and which serve as a reference for attitudes, private views of self, others and the world, and behavior (lifestyle). Therapeutic work with clients involves short-term and intensive work to increase social interest, to encourage a greater sense of responsibility for behavior, and to support behavioral change.

In 1902, Alfred Adler was invited by Freud to become his group to discuss new ideas in psychology after seeing him publicly defend some of his own ideas. Adler was an active member as well as vocal using this group as a forum to develop and debate his emerging ideas of the human condition (Fall, Holden, & Marquis, 2004). Five years later, he developed his first theoretical work entitled, Organic Inferiority and Its Psychical Compensation. In the following years, Adler became the president of the International Psycho-analytic Society and began to openly disagree with Freud’s perspectives of

Adlerian theory, also referred to as individual psychology, stresses the need to understand individuals within their social context (Mosak & Maniacci, 2014). Interestingly, Alfred Adler gave his theoretical framework the name, Individual Psychology, which derives from the Latin term individuum. The meaning of individuum translates to “indivisible” and represents the holistic foundation of Adlerian theory (Mosak & Maniacci, 2014). Adlerians assume that every behavior has a purpose, causing them to focus on clients’ “style of life”, or consistent themes that occur throughout their life. Mosak and Maniacci (2014) describe Adler’s “style of life” as, “bias apperceptions about self, others, and the world from a self-consistent cognitive and attitudinal set which organizes and directs movement toward the goal” (p. 12). Accordingly, Adlerian concepts revolve around achieving the main tasks of life through cooperation rather than competition, in work, friendship, love, self-task, and spiritual task (Mosak & Maniacci, 2014). Furthermore, this theory focuses on influences that might encourage the development of exaggerated inferiority, and how these feelings can push people to better themselves in guiding the self-ideal and altering the way they strive toward success, such as through choices and level of responsibility.

The Adlerian therapy is a basic goal to help clients identify and change their beliefs about self, others, life and to participate in the social world. This counseling session will be approached by using the Adlerian perspective, to proceed with helping Javier’s and Alice’s family issues. The responsibility of being Javier’s and Alice’s counselor is coming to a solution how they could understand each other morals. During the counseling session, I would apply the lifestyle questionnaire to get a better understanding of each individual point of view in their marriage. However, I would question each individual at different duration of time. Then bring the two together to discuss their differences about each question I provide them with. To emphasize with this questionnaire, it could amplify with advantages and disadvantages with Javier and Alice’s marriage. The advantage with this procedure is Javier and Alice could benefit from this exercise, in a way of helping their marriage and family. The disadvantage of this procedure is when Javier and Alice hear each other, answers about the questionnaire that was provided to them. However, this could raise other issues within the marriage.