1. Adlerian Theory

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Theories of Counseling:Adlerian Theory

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Copyright Allyn & Bacon 2004


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Adlerian TheoryHistory of Adlerian Theory

Inspired by Freudian psychoanalysis.

Founded by Alfred Adler, championed in America by Rudolf Dreikurs.

Dissemination throughout American elementary schools during the guidancemovement by Don Dinkmeyer.



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Adlerian TheoryBasic Tenets of Adlerian Theory

Inferiority vs. superiority.

Humans are constantly becoming.

It is holistic and phenomenological .

Society is viewed as teleological.

Adlerians are considered to be technical eclectives.



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Adlerian TheoryTheory of Personality

The person is viewed as a unified organism.

Humans are motivated by social interest.

People want to belong.

Life Tasks: Friendship, occupation, love, spirituality, understandingthe individual self ( I and the me).



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Adlerian TheoryTheory of Personality (Continued)

Nomothetic Principles:

The basic dynamic force is striving for a fictional goal superiority.

Successful adaptation to life depends upon the degree of socialinterest in goal striving.

Goal striving may be considered active and can be consideredaccording to type.



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Fictional Goals: The outcome of unconscious notions that have no

counterpart in reality.

The are concerned with the future.

They start early in life--as young as infancy.

Fictional conceptualizations become the first goals of what willbecome lifestyle.

Fictional goals are our attempt to belong and be significant inthe eyes of others.



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Types of People


Ruling: Is dominant in relationships.Getting: Is expectant and dependent.

Avoiding: Shies away from problems.Driving: Is achievement oriented.Controlling: Likes order and certainty.Being victimized or martyred: Both like suffering.Being good: Likes being competent and better.Being socially useful: Cooperative and humble.


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Idiographic Principles


Everyone has his or her own style of life.

Perception guides behavior.

Style of life is the overall pattern that affectsa persons thinking, feeling and behaving.


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Adlerian TheoryNature of Maladjustment

A person has a mistaken opinion of himself or herself and of the world.

A person engages in abnormal behavior to protect his or her opinion ofself.

A person will do this when threatened with failure and insecurity.

The person becomes self-centered rather than other-centered.

The individual is unconscious of these events.



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Adlerian TheoryNature of Maladjustment (continued)

Inferiority complex: The individual is overwhelmed by a sense of

inadequacy.

Family constellation: Mediates the genetic and constitutional factorsbrought by the child and the cultural factors that influence the child.

Safeguarding: Symptoms are developed for the purpose ofsafeguarding the fictional goal.



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Adlerian TheoryThe Counseling Process

The Client-Counseling Relationship: Collaborative, egalitarian,

respectful and cooperative.

Understanding the Client: How is the client behaving? What does theclient gain from this behavior? Why does the client do this in thismanner?

Assessment and Analysis: Family Atmosphere and Constellation, BirthOrder, Early Recollections, Dreams, and Priorities.



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Adlerian TheoryThe Counseling Process (continued)

Insight and Interpretation: Helps the client see his or her priority and

ask whether or not the price for achieving it is worth paying.

Reorientation: Counselor offers alternative ideas or beliefs for theclients consideration.

Prescribing New Behavioral Rituals: The client is assignedhomework that engages him or her in repetitive acts to reinforce theclients new belief system, behaviors and rules of interaction.



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Adlerian TheoryStrategies for Helping Clients

Restatement: Restating the clients words to form clarity and convey

understanding.

Reflection: Restating the clients words to give deeper meaningregarding the underlying feeling.

Guesses, Hunches, Hypotheses: Making statements to explain whatis happening.

Questioning: To get a better understanding but also reframe thesymptoms for the client.



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Adlerian TheoryStrategies for Helping Clients (continued)

Interpretation: Takes guesses, hunches and hypotheses one step

further. Focuses on the whys of behavior.

Nonverbal Behavior: Adlerians bring the clients nonverbal behavior tothe attention of the client and interpret it.

Immediacy: Dealing with what is in the here and now.

Active Wondering: Proposes an alternative to the presenting problem.



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Confrontation: Pointing out discrepancies between what the client

says and what the client does.

Paradoxical Intention: Asking the client to amplify target behavior toshow the client how ridiculous it is.

Creating Images: Asks the client to imagine a ridiculous scene as heor she enters into a threatening situation.

Asking The Question: If your problem were to disappear overnight,how would things be different?



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Catching Oneself: Having the client catch himself or herself when

engaging in irrational behavior.

Acting As If: Acting out a role that the client thought impossible.

Spitting in the Soup: Spoiling the game of the client.

Encouragement: Promotes client self- awareness. Clients arent sickbut only discouraged.



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Midas Technique: Exaggerating the clients neurotic demands.

Pleasing Someone: Helps put the client back into society. The clientis instructed to go out and do something nice for someone else.

Avoiding the Tar Baby: Acting contrary to what the client expects.



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Adlerian Theoryof Adlerian Theory

It can be used for numerous issues and disorders.

Uses encouragement.

It is phenomenological.

It does not consider people to be predisposed to anything.


Advantages


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Adlerian TheoryDisadvantages of Adlerian Theory

The amount of family and lifestyle information that is collected.

Sometimes difficult to do the interpretations, especially the dreams.

Adlerian therapy works best with highly verbal and intelligent clients.This might leave out many people who do not fit that category.

Might be too lengthy for managed care.

Adlerians do not like to make diagnoses as it labels people.



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Adlerian TheoryAdlerian Theory and Diversity

Adlerians were pioneers in multiculturalism.

Adlerian relationships are equitable, cooperative, and empathic.

Adlerian theorys focus on inferiority is understanding of thedisenfranchised.

Adlerian theory can be used successful with many diverse groups.



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Resources

Ivey, A. E., DAndrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling

and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5 th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn &Bacon.

James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and psychotherapy, 5 th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach.Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.


1. Adlerian Theory

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