Psychotherapy is an area that had gained recognition because of its ability to meet people’s needs and encourage them to re-pattern their energy levels. Psychologists consider clients’ challenges and past experiences to provide personalized support. Adlerian psychology remains one of the widely used models that guide professionals to treat patients successfully. This paper seeks to introduce and describe the Adlerian theory as a powerful model for counseling and providing psychotherapy to troubled persons. It goes further to describe the framework’s strengths and weaknesses and how professionals can apply it in different settings.
Historical Information
Adlerian theory is a psychoanalytical model attributable to Alfred Adler who lived between 1870 and 1937. He was born in Rudolfsheim, Vienna on 7th February 1870 (Cuijpers et al., 2019). His parents were Jewish and Alder was the second born. He witnessed the death of his young brother when he was barely 3 years of age. He had a challenging childhood after being diagnosed with pneumonia and rickets that affected his mobility. He chose to venture in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and sociology as an adult. He later attended the University of Vienna whereby he graduated to become an eye specialist. He went further to complete additional studies in the fields of psychiatry and neurology.
He remained competitive than his brother, Sigmund, and considered new ways of recording personal success in life. He would later interact with some of the Austrian psychoanalysts of the time, including Sigmund Freud, Wilhelm Stekel, and Rudolf Reitler. The development of this theory is attributable to his analysis of equality, birth order, holism, and lifestyle and how they influenced people’s thoughts and expectations (Lee, 2017). The observations led to the assumption that the most appropriate way to solve psychological challenges was to ensure that beneficiaries felt loved, appreciated, and significant in their societies. Such an approach would make them more connected and willing to cooperate in a wide range of areas.
Several people and family members encouraged or influenced Alder to develop his theory. First, his wife was an intellectual Russian who helped her think about inequality. She was born in Russia, studied in Vienna, and chose to marry Adler in 1987 (Marks, 2017). They would later give birth to four children who eventually occupied different careers, including psychiatry, socialism, and literature. As a colleague, Sigmund Freud equipped this scholar and analysts with additional ideas during their informal discussions. Sigmund Freud was a neurologist whose concepts led to the establishment of psychoanalysis. He was born in 1856 and later died in the year 1939 (Lee, 2017). He is famous for developing the psychoanalyst-patient dialogue method that continues to meet the demands of more people even today (Goodluck & Gabriel, 2017). Their disagreements also become a powerful reason for Alder to think deeper and continue developing his theory. His thoughts and ideas compelled him to establish the Society for Individual Psychology in the year 1912.
Fundamental Principles
Adlerian theory presents various concepts, principles, and views that users need to consider if they want to record positive results. The first idea is the unity of the identified client or individual whereby therapists need to focus on his or her emotions, thoughts, and emotions to understand the existing lifestyle (Cuijpers et al., 2019). The next principle is that of goal orientation whereby the anticipated goal of success, superiority, or significance remains critical. Psychotherapists will go further to embrace the view of self-determination and uniqueness (Miller & Taylor, 2016). This attribute explains why the use of birth order, one’s past memories, and coping patterns will result in a better working approach or hypothesis.
The social context aspect views humans as part of a wider communal system and the entire planet. The feelings of the entire society are essential to understand how a person can live harmoniously with other creatures. Mental health remains critical since it dictates the level of connectedness and the desire to promote personal development and support the welfare of others. Professionals who consider the idea will create a sense of feeling and guide people to pursue a self-transcending approach or benefit (Marks, 2017). Finally, the concept of treatment emerges whereby psychoanalysts guide clients to overcome their past challenges and insecurities. They will go further to focus on beneficial energies and practices that can make them successful.
With such concepts and principles, the theory goes further to view human nature from an informed perspective. Adler believes that people are connected creatures that need to collaborate, support each other, and focus on the seamlessness of the planet’s energy levels (Mansager & Bluvshtein, 2017). Individuals need to overcome their past or present gaps by embracing promising ideas and concepts that can take them to the net level and become significant, happy, and appreciated members of the society.
Therapeutic Techniques
The Adlerian theory presents evidence-based practices and techniques that psychologists can use individually or collectively to meet the demands of the client depending on the exhibited signs or goals. The first approach is known as brief therapy whereby a person or a group is allowed to engage in a Socratic dialogue to identify their past mistakes, assumptions, and feelings. They will go further to consider additional ways of being realistic and focusing on their needs and those of others. Individual psychotherapy is another common technique whereby the professional guides the identified patient to overcome his or her feelings of ineffectiveness or insecurity (Miller & Taylor, 2016). The psychotherapist will support the development of a sense of connectivity and inner feelings. The individual will then start to focus on additional ways of pursuing activities, practices, behaviors, and ideas that are socially beneficial.
Couple or family therapies are additional techniques whereby some of the concepts of the individual psychotherapy approach are applied to several individuals within the same family. The members are guided to think about themselves and the world around them. They are encouraged to redirect their energy levels and focus on new ways of improving their experiences while at the same time benefiting the wider society (Goodluck & Gabriel, 2017). This will became a routine form overcoming exaggerated or inappropriate personal thoughts and consider group enhancement. They individuals will become more courageous and collaborate to deliver meaningful contributions to their respective societies.
Experts and physicians relying on the use of the Adlerian techniques will have to engage in constant encouragement. Such a practice is evidence-based and capable of stimulating the targeted beneficiaries to focus on their current situations and try what used to appear unattainable before. This initiative becomes a new opportunity for developing a new sense of involvement, pride, and confidence (Goodluck & Gabriel, 2017). Psychotherapists who apply the intended strategy efficiency will realize that the beneficiaries would be willing to cooperate and be part of the entire process. Consequently, they will develop self-enhancement and eventually learn how to indulge in both personal activities and societal contributions.
Strengths and Limitations
All psychoanalytical theories present specific strengths and limitations that influence the decisions many therapists make before applying them to their specific clients. Adlerian model presents a number of superiorities that make it appropriate and capable of empowering more people to achieve their goals in life (Goodluck & Gabriel, 2017). First, this framework remains strong and applicable when focusing on the idea of competency considerations. This area outlines specific attributes and abilities that make it famous and outstanding with compared with the other theories. For instance, it has the potential to influence desirable psychological movements (Watts, 2015). It can also empower therapists to apply it in different situations or settings, including on individuals and families. This framework makes it possible for professional psychotherapists to pursue the patient’s real issue or problem. The theory stimulates personal encouraged and social interest, thereby making it possible for users to record positive results.
Second, therapists have found the model applicable and useful for different mental conditions and even disorders affecting humanity. The broad nature and simplicity associate with it makes it appropriate for many interventionists (Richardson, 2016). Third, Adlerian theory is phenomenological since therapists can consider a wide range of personal attributes and match them with the above principles and concepts to record positive results in a timely manner. Fourth, patients presenting diverse challenges and issues can be targeted and treated in accordance with the guidelines the theorist presents. The important aspect is identifying the most appropriate ways to overcome the existing feelings of unworthiness and introduce a sense of success and purpose to the person.
On the other hand, this framework has unique limitations that could discourage many psychotherapists from relying on it to meet their clients’ demands. The first one is that is can be hard to apply is specific cases whereby dreams and unknown experiences are recorded. The individual or beneficiary might be unable to learn and eventually record negative outcomes (Fonagy, 2015). The second bottleneck is that communication is a key part of the process. Individuals who lack verbal abilities and skills might not record positive outcomes from such a model. Another outstanding limitation is that it might be lengthy to apply before desirable results are recorded. Such challenges of this theory encourage many therapists to consider other models to provide the relevant help to support to their clients with diverse needs.
Application to Client Populations
Different clients would need psychosocial and therapeutic support to overcome their challenges and become fruitful members of their respective communities. Adlerian theory remains outstanding and applicable in different settings or situations. Different populations would benefit significantly from this model because it seeks to uplift the members from their current challenges and find a new reason to succeed in life (Richardson, 2016). For instance, the model is appropriate for poor members of the society from minority groups, including African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans (Miller & Taylor, 2016). The use of the framework will support the clients and promote the concept of society. They will become interconnected and develop superior social forces that can improve their communities and promote upward mobility.
This theory is applicable in class settings whereby teachers can employ it to educate and provide instructions to learners with diverse needs. They will support skill building processes, introduce additional concepts, and influence behavioral practices. Children with learning disabilities will get the best support from the educator and colleagues (Watts, 2015). These professionals can consider the best approaches to deal with birth order, inadequacy, and mistreatment since these forces can interfere with the educational process.
Persons with mental problems, depressions, and suicidal thoughts can benefit from the idea of encouragement associated with this theory. These predicaments are usually associated with unstable families, stress, disinterestedness, and hopelessness. The use of such a theory will result in encouragement and make it possible for members of the affected communities to develop a sense of hope and coping. Finally, religious groups or followers form another unique client population that can benefit from this theory (Fonagy, 2015). Counselors applying this tool will integrate cultural and spiritual attributes to encourage people to overcome their past problems and consider new ways of improving their goals or positions in the society.
Conclusion
The above discussion has identified Adlerian theory as a powerful counseling model for different populations and situations. It can empower people to re-pattern their experiences and eventually achieve their goals. Gestalt theory is another framework that presents similar concepts that can meet the demands of many clients. For instance, it focuses on proximity, similarity, connectedness, closure, and continuity as meaningful forces that can result in healing (Roubal et al., 2015). Proponents of gestalt theory indicate that it has a lot of commonalities with Adlerian therapy. The unique techniques and interventions include positive client-therapist relationship, maintenance of balance, and empowerment of clients to be in full control of their energy fields. These approaches would be useful for all citizens and client populations described above. However, the model might not be effective for persons who are facing economic difficulties in life due to its rigidity and streamlined focus on disorders and mental disabilities.
References
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