Counseling and Psychotherapy

Theory and Practice

Chapter 5
Adlerian Therapy

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Objectives
• At the end of the session, you will be able to
answer the following questions:
• What are the key concepts of Adlerian Therapy?
• What is the therapeutic process like in Adlerian
Therapy?
• What are the techniques and procedures in Adlerian
Therapy?

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Key Concepts of Adlerian
Therapy
Subjective
View of
Perception of
Human Nature Reality

Unity and Patterns Social Interest

of Human and Community
Personality Feeling

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 View of Human Nature
Individuals form their Focus is on the person’s
approach in life during past as perceived and
their first 6 years of interpreted in the
living present

Human are motivated The focus of the

by social relatedness therapy is
rather than solely consciousness rather
biological drives than the unconscious.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 View of Human Nature
Psychological Inferiority feelings are
development is based on normal consequences
the development of of physical
inferiority development. imperfections.

Our power to respond to

Response to our own
our inferiority feelings by
inferiority feelings may
either changing ourselves or
influence the development
the environment is a
of psychological problems. primary resource.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Subjective Perception of
Reality
Phenomenology – Adlerian Therapy is
individual experience is focused on how
subject and based on individuals create
individual interpretation. their phenomena.

The point of view Objective reality is

taken is that of less important in the
the client. psychological realm.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Unity and Patterns of Personality
Individual Psychology Holism – humans are a
– “indivisible”, single complete unit; a
avoidance of whole that cannot and
reductionism. should not be divided

The parts of ourself There is more emphasis on

should be understood as interpersonal relationships
in a relationship, as we than on the individual’s
are as human beings. internal psychodynamics.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Unity and Patterns of Personality
The individual is an inter- Adlerian Therapy is teleological.
To understand the client, the
relation of their goals, their
therapist must understand the
striving for superiority, and “guiding self-ideal” or “goal of
their lifestyle. perfection” of the client.

The “guiding self-ideal” is

Striving for superiority
driven by the striving for
means moving from a
significance and superiority
perceived lower position to
away from feelings of
a perceived better position.
inferiority.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Unity and Patterns of Personality
The striving for superiority The style of life is the
individuals map to move
and significance is a
away from inferiority and
compensatory response towards the guiding self-
to the inferiority feeling. ideal.

The style of life is the Faulty interpretations from

childhood develop into
cognitive schema used to
dysfunctional styles of life
navigate through life that inhibit one from moving
established in childhood. away from inferiority.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 “We can begin wherever we
choose: every expression will lead
us in the same direction – toward
the one motive, the one melody,
around which the personality is
built.”
- Alfred Adler
2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.
 Social Interest and Community
Feeling
Social Interest is a sense of
What makes a guiding self-
being one with a
ideal and style of life
community and being
functional or healthy is the
concerned about the
presence of social interest.
community as oneself.

Social interest, while innate, Social Interest is the central

could also be influenced by
indicator of mental health.
childhood experience where
the child cultivates as sense of
Connects with the concept
oneness with a community. of “pakikipagkapwa-tao”.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Social Interest and Community
Feeling
Social interest also It is both a goal and
manifests as community at the same time a
feeling – being connected means towards that
with humanity. goal.

Complete Social Interest is The aim of therapy is to

to successfully mastering assist clients in modifying
three tasks: (1) social tasks, their lifestyle so that they
(2) love-marriage task, and can more effectively
(3) occupational task. navigate these tasks.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Birth Order and Sibling
Relationships
Since the earliest community is Birth order is not an
the family – sibling relationship
inventory of characteristics,
has a strong influence in the
development of style of life but a description of the
and social interest. common experiences.

Early family experiences and Although siblings share aspects in

relationships are carried common in the family
constellation, the psychological
over as templates for later situation of each child is different
relationship - somewhat like from that of the others due to
a relationship style. birth order.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Birth Order and Sibling
Relationships

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Theory of Psychopathology
Adlerian’s generally define
Psychological disorders emerge
psychopathology as
from a failure to deal with the
“discouragement” –
life tasks effectively. The failure
unwillingness to approach and
leads to an exaggeration of the
deal with essential life tasks or
lacks the courage to do so.
feelings of inferiority.

From an Adlerian perspective “Anxiety neurosis is always

– symptoms have a purpose symptomatic of a timid attitude
towards the three problems of
– they are attempted, albeit life – and those who suffer from
unhelpful effort to address it are invariably “spoiled”
the life tasks. children.”

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Theory of Psychopathology

“If I steal, then I won’t have “If I become depressed, I can

to communicate, cooperate, communicate my anger and
divide labor, or perform dissatisfaction indirectly. I will
other basic social functions be taken cared of and in
needed in the workplace.” control of the household.”

“If I become anxious, I won’t These are examples of

approach one or more of the basic
life tasks. Perhaps I can avoid Adlerian formulations
marriage and work. If I collapse from
anxiety, surely someone will rescue
of different mental
me from the demands of life.” disorders.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Theory of Psychopathology

Inferiority is also a critical Objective inferiority: From this

concept in psychopathology. perspective, inferiority is
measurable and contextual.
While it is normal, many Some people are taller, stronger,
inferiority take on faster, more attractive, more
pathological dimensions. intelligent.

Inferiority Feelings: these are Inferiority complexes: these are

“global, subjective, and behavioral manifestations of
evaluative” generalizations that inferiority feelings. It could be
are believed despite contrary normal or pathological depending
evidence. Often come as self- on the extent of consequent
defeating labels. impairment.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 The Therapeutic Process
Therapy is a collaborative process The main aim of therapy is to
based on mutual respect; a develop the client’s sense of
holistic psychological investigation belonging and assist in the adoption
or lifestyle assessment, and of behaviors and processes
disclosing mistaken goals and characterized by community feeling
faulty assumptions. and social interest.

Adlerians do not view clients Encouragement is the most

as being sick and in need of powerful method available for
changing a person’s beliefs.
being cured. They favor the Courage is the willingness to act
growth model rather than even when fearful in ways
the medical model. consistent with social interest.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Sample Basic Mistakes

Convinced himself that

Client: Chronically- nobody could really care
depressed middle- about him. He rejects
people before they have a
aged man chance to reject him.

He is harshly critical of He burdens himself

himself, expecting
with guild because he
perfection. He has
expectations that things is convinced he is
will rarely work out well. letting everyone down.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Application: Therapeutic Techniques and
Procedures

Phase 2: Explore the

Phase 1: Establish the
psychological dynamics
proper therapeutic
operating in the client
relationship. (an assessment).

Phase 3: Encourage Phase 4: Help the

the development of client make new
self-understanding choices (reorientation
(insight into purpose). and reeducation).

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 1: Getting into the Client’s Phenomena

Cultivate a collaborative Focus on making person-

relationship based on to-person contact rather
caring, involvement, than starting with the
and friendship. “problem”.

The initial focus Demonstrated by listening,

responding, demonstrating
should be the person, respect, exhibiting faith,
not the problem. hope, and caring.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 2: Exploring Psychological Dynamics

Assessment uses (1) the

The Family Constellation
family constellation
Interview is constructed as
interview, (2) the question,
a (a) subjective interview
and (3) the earliest
recollection. and (b) objective interview.

The subjective interview The Question: “How would

your life be different, what
unpacks how the client
would you be doing
reconstructs their early differently, if you did not have
childhood experiences. this symptom or problem?”

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 2: Exploring Psychological Dynamics

The Objective Interview The Adlerian

unpacks the concrete
events and experiences
Therapist is a
in the life of the client. lifestyle investigator.

The objective experiences The Interview’s intent is to

determine the (1) guiding self-
are viewed together with
ideal, (2) sources of inferiority,
the subjective perception and (3) compensatory behaviors
of these events. manifesting in the style of life.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 2: Exploring Psychological Dynamics

Family Constellation is an Family constellation includes

evaluation of the conditions birth order, family values,
that prevailed in the family parental relationships, and
life of the client. extended family and culture.

The objective experiences The Interview’s intent is to

determine the (1) guiding self-
are viewed together with
ideal, (2) sources of inferiority,
the subjective perception and (3) compensatory behaviors
of these events. manifesting in the style of life.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 2: Exploring Psychological Dynamics

Early Recollections is a Our earliest memories

technique where clients provide clues about our
provide their earliest essential convictions and
memories, usually before basic mistakes in our
the age of 9. lifestyle.

Early memories cast light Adlerian therapists

on the “story of our life”
use early recollection
because they represent
metaphors for our current as a projective
views. technique.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Goals of the Early Recollection

Assess the client’s Assess the client’s stance

convictions about in relation to the
self, others, life, and counseling session and the
counseling relationship.
ethics.

Verify the Assess individual

client’s coping strengths, assets,
and interfering ideas.
patterns.
2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.
 The Question

The Question is “How would your

designed to uncover
the purpose of the life be different if
client’s symptoms. you were well?”

It determines if the The answer to this question

client is obtaining typically reveals what is
secondary gains for being avoided by using the
presenting problem.
having problems.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 3: Encouraging Self-understanding and
Insight

Insight is defined as Disclosure and well-timed

interpretations are
“understanding
techniques that facilitate
translated into the process of gaining
constructive action”. insight.

Interpretations and insights “I could be wrong, but

are presented tentatively in
I am wondering if…” or
the form of open-ended
questions that can be “Could it be that…” or
explored in the session. “Is it possible that…”

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Phase 4: Re-orientation and Reeducation

The final phase is the The goal of this phase

action oriented phase: is top help clients
putting the insights discover new and more
into practice. functional perspective.

Reorientation involved The encouragement process

entails showing faith in people,
shifting the rules of expecting them to assume
interaction, process, responsibility for their lives, and
and motivation. valuing them for who they are.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 Adlerian Techniques

Future Autobiography could be Acting and Reflecting “as if”. As

used as an assessment and an clients rehearse their self-ideal,
intervention. It could reveal the they also become more skilled
guiding self-ideal or in with sustaining it. Reflecting “as
reorienting themselves with if” allows clients to consider what
their goals. they need to be their ideal.

Catching oneself is a technique Paradoxical strategies are

founded on self-awareness and founded on the assumption that
self-control. It is a noticing there are internal states that,
exercise that gives the client the more we try to change
more insight about the problem. them, the more they’d resist.

2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.

 “The greater the feeling of
inferiority that has been
experienced, the more powerful is
the urge to conquest and the more
violent the emotional agitation.”

Alfred Adler
2020 © Department of Psychology, Kidapawan Doctors College, Inc.