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Adlerian Therapy
Named after
Alfred Adler, Adlerian theory primarily emphasizes birth
order, individual life styles, social interests, and
concepts pertaining to inferiority and superiority as
principle components of personality. For Adler,
psychological health is determined by the level of social
contribution beneficial to the greater community. To the
degree, that one integrates and furthers the social context,
thus the measurement of his or her mental health. Social
contribution is increased through the reduction of mistaken
beliefs, which frequently lead to maladaptive feelings of
inferiority or superiority. This goal of combating false
beliefs is attained through an understanding of family
constellations, early memories, and dreams.
For
psychologists, translating the goals of Adlerian theory into
a therapeutic process has resulted in an approach to
counseling that varies widely among practitioners. These
goals are to bring about an increased social interest,
modify self-destructive behavior, and solve problems more
efficiently. To reach these aspirations in a clinical
setting, psychotherapy provides a choice to counselors as a
base for identifying and addressing incorrect thoughts and
belief patterns. This influence of psychotherapy owes its’
origin to Sigmund Freud, an indirect contributor to Adlerian
therapy.
Initial
sessions provide Adlerian therapists with an opportunity to
observe and assess clients in order to gauge their family
dynamics, present lifestyle, and early childhood
experiences. These assessments may be formal or informal
using questionnaires or direct inquiry. Further to this,
therapists also rely on dreams and the interpretive meaning
for the client’s current situation and struggles.
Several
practical techniques are used in Adlerian therapy.
Immediacy asks the client to communicate events at the
present moment. By focusing on the immediate here and now,
clients are reoriented into a position conducive to a
greater understanding of their situation. The technique of
encouragement helps to build rapport between
therapist and client. Counselors also use encouragement to
assess client lifestyle to provide tools for overcoming
inferiority and low self-concept. Acting as if
requests the client to presume the successful result of a
not yet attempted action.
Another
technique, spitting in the client’s soup, requires
the counselor to make certain behaviors less attractive to
the client. Once a particular behavior is seen as
repulsive, it is less likely to recur. The question
tests the client in order to identify the existence of a
psychological problem through the use of deliberately
constructed questions by the counselor. If the client makes
a connection between the answer to the question and another
problem altogether, the therapist then presumes the root of
the illness is to avoid the problem connected by the
client. Finally, Adlerian therapists often assign
homework as a means to assist clients in solving
problems outside the counseling session.
In Adlerian
therapy, the relationship between the client and counselor
requires mutual trust and respect in order to maximize
clinical success. Client and therapist should have similar
goals to reach this end. When client goals do not match
therapist goals, the Adlerian counselor will work to educate
as to the more appropriate goals. To accomplish this, some
Adlerian therapists have their clients sign a contract
detailing the goals of their counseling process. The clear
synchronization of goals in early treatment provides the
framework for a healthy relationship between client and
counselor, upon which the remainder of counseling objectives
are built.
Adlerian
therapy is diverse, both in practice and in theory. This
flexibility is seen by many as one of its greatest
strengths. Because of its emphasis on goals, the social
leanings of Adlerian therapy are greatly beneficial to
couples, families, and groups. Finally, the incorporation
of psychoanalysis provides additional options to the
counselor, bringing to the session room a wide range of
techniques to cover numerous client issues.
Adlerian
therapy is frequently criticized for its lack of depth.
Seen by many as somewhat superficial, it lacks the
constitution necessary to fully deal with the vast array of
psychological issues clients bring to the counseling room.
While its flexibility is wide in scope, its fortitude is
frail, and many see it as a therapy that is akin to one who
dabbles in everything but masters in nothing. Through its
emphasis on birth orders and early recollection, untestable
assumptions are made that many psychologists see as placing
undue weight on concepts not critical to human growth.
Overall,
Adlerian therapy focuses on applications in individual
psychology with intent to provide prevention services
designed to assist during growth. This educational focus is
utilized with teachers and parent to identify the importance
of social interaction and the development of social
interests. Further, parents are taught the importance of
family relationships and the legacy that is passed between
generations through birth order and individual personality.
In the use
of group work, Adlerian therapy works to develop group
cohesion, which mirrors healthy functioning in social
settings. Members of the group are able to develop a sense
of belonging and community that may be unavailable in their
present situation. Due to the flexibility and integrative
nature of this theory, individuals, families, and groups are
helped with the tools of this approach. Contrasting this
however, Adlerian therapy has its limitations, as it does
not provide immediate solutions to client problems with more
of a long-term focus. With less of a simplistic approach,
this therapy is suited more for individuals who are prepared
to take the time to understand family of origin issues.
Personal
Evaluation
Adlerian
thought has at its base, a socialistic ideology. The
pervasiveness of socialism in Adlerian theory owes itself to
the inspirations of Karl Marx; one of Alfred Adler’s
professed influences. A presupposition against capitalism,
private property, and acquired wealth was, I believe, a
driving force behind his theory. Because no part of his
theory (that I could determine) conflicted with socialist
philosophy, I believe that Adler used this ideology as a
basis when forming his theory, forcing his theory of
personality to conform to his communist philosophy. Because
of this, I do not acknowledge Adler’s theory as scientific
in an empirical sense, but rather a reflection of his
personal views. While his views on the importance of birth
order are interesting and certainly original, I do not see
them as having a great deal of merit. If there is any
effect that birth order has on an individual, I believe it
is due to localized parenting factors at the
microenvironment rather than some kind of objective truth
about birth order at a macro level. Because I am a true
capitalist, I hold little value for communistic thought and
see it as a threat to my way of life.
Christianity is not compatible with socialism. Jesus discarded the abundant tithes of the pharisees and treasured the widows mites because she sacrificed, and gave from her heart. True Christian giving must always come from the individual. Socialism institutes a secular government that takes by force, and redistributes. When a government takes money by force and gives it to the poor, an individual should not assume he has "fed the poor" by proxy. God would rather an individual man give of his own free will to feed the poor, then a secular government taking money by force from the man to feed the poor. Every act of service in Christianity requires the individual heart. Socialism, by definition, purges the individual and replaces it with Big Government, and is therefore an antithesis to Christianity. When the church of Acts gave up all of its possessions, this was not socialism, because each individual chose freely to give. Jesus Himself said that even sinners take care of sinners, but that doesn't make a society Godly. A perfectly humanistic society where all the poor are fed and no one goes hungry is still in utter depravity and an enemy to God (note that plenty of people in this world who commit evil and despise God are well fed). God is about individual souls, not about making sure no one is poor. Remember it was "Big Government" that was brought down by God Himself at the tower of Babel. Because of this fundamental philosophy in my world view that utterly rejects secular socialism, I therefore reject the foundations of Adler's theories.
In a more
positive light, I value his emphasis on family unity and
group cohesion. Adler understood the difference between
developing individual self esteem and fostering it within a
group. I am a strong believer in the strength that teamwork
can impart on an individual’s self worth. To belong to a
group and functioning purposefully in that group is a strong
motivator towards positive change. Of course, this requires
that the agenda and mission of the group is conducive to
growth and not void of moral recognition. As beneficial and
powerful as group dynamics can have on an individual,
equally dangerous is the possibility for mechanistic
depravity as can be seen in the “mob mentality” that forms
when the morality of a group erodes while its cohesion
remains. |
