Adlerian Therapy is a short-term, goal-oriented, and positive psychodynamic therapy based on the theories of Alfred Adler. Adler focused much of his research on feelings of inferiority versus superiority, discouragement, and a sense of belonging in the context of one’s community and society at large.
According to Adler, feelings of inferiority can result in neurotic behavior but, in the right setting, can also be used as motivation to strive for greater success. During Adlerian Therapy, human behavior is viewed as having a purpose and a goal, with the belief that individuals desire to be socially connected with others.
When This Therapy Is Used
Adlerian therapy can be applied successfully to help treat trauma and trauma-induced symptoms, such as addiction or mental health disorders.
How Adlerian Therapy Works
During Alderian Therapy, individuals learn to comprehend their thoughts, drives, and emotions that influence their lifestyle. In therapy, Adlerian theory benefits individuals by helping them understand the root of their behaviors, how they can change their view of themselves, and how they can change their view of their childhoods.
Individuals are also encouraged to acquire a more positive and productive life by developing new insights, skills, and behaviors.
These goals are achieved through the four stages of Adlerian Therapy:
#1. Engagement
In the first stage of Adlerian Therapy, individuals and their therapist begin to establish the therapeutic relationship. This relationship helps create a collaboration towards addressing the individual’s problems.
They establish goals and boundaries before diving into the real work: building a foundation of trust. The therapist should offer support and encouragement during this process.
#2. Assessment
During the assessment stage, the therapist encourages the individual to talk about their experiences, emotions, behaviors, family, upbringing, and drives. This process helps the therapist learns more about the individual’s background.
This information helps establish how the individual’s current behaviors came to be. Was there a significant life event that made them feel ashamed or guilty? Did this event push them into the shadows or cause them to become quiet to avoid feeling stupid?
In this part of therapy, the therapist attempts to understand how the individual may have developed certain styles of thinking that are no longer helpful for them.
#3. Insight
In the third stage, the therapist offers an interpretation of the client’s situation. The therapist suggests theories about how past experiences may have contributed to issues the individual is currently experiencing. The therapist then leaves it up to the individual to decide whether these theories are accurate and useful.
#4. Reorientation
During the last stage of Adlerian Therapy, therapists and individuals develop a new interpretation of the individual’s past and strategies that they can use to change their lives in positive ways.
This new, positive perspective can give individuals the confidence they need to work toward their goals. Having shed the weight of shame, guilt, or lack of self-worth, it is easier for the individual to move toward growth and fulfillment.
Feelings of Inferiority
One of the most well-known ideas of Adlerian Therapy is that everyone experiences feelings of inferiority at some point in their lives.
Among psychologically healthy individuals, these feelings of inferiority encourage the pursuit of goals, motivating them to strive towards self-improvement. By developing positive ways of coping with feelings of inferiority, individuals can achieve great things and make a positive contribution to society as a whole.
However, some individuals have difficulty coping with feelings of inferiority, which leads them to feel discouraged. Other individuals may cope with feelings of inferiority in harmful ways, like behaving selfishly to feel superior to others or engaging in substance abuse to numb their feelings.
In Adlerian Therapy, therapists work to provide individuals with the support and encouragement they need to cope more effectively with feelings of inferiority and develop healthy ways of overcoming these feelings.
Social Connection With Others
One crucial aspect of Adlerian Therapy is the concept of social interest. According to this idea, people are at their best when they act in ways that benefit society. Social interest helps people achieve psychological health and feel fulfilled.
For example, a person high in social interest might go out of their way to help others, while a person with a lower social interest may bully others or act in antisocial ways. The most important thing to note is that levels of social interest can change over time. While participating in Adlerian Therapy, individuals can increase their levels of social interest.
Accepting the Individual
The Adlerian theory views each person as a whole individual as opposed to just a collection of behaviors, beliefs, and influences. Adler stressed that, as humans, we must study the entire individual, as this is what will give us clues as to where growth can begin.
For example, if we were to focus merely on negative behaviors, individuals might feel that their other qualities don’t have value. However, when we highlight good qualities and show the person they are valued, negative behaviors and beliefs can be slowly replaced.
Adlerian Therapy helps individuals in their process of healing learn to accept themselves as an individual. By delving into past and present beliefs, an understanding of behavior can be made. Through this understanding, individuals can move towards learning to accept themselves and move forward with the world and others with confidence. This therapy can be used to treat addiction, trauma, or any mental health disorder. At Sabino Recovery, we offer a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic methods designed to improve your recovery from trauma and trauma-induced symptoms. We comprehensively treat trauma and addictions with an engaged and highly trained staff, resulting in an effective therapeutic alliance. We optimize healing by empowering our residents to make positive changes and by providing holistic, integrated, and strength-based treatments. If you or a loved one is struggling with trauma, addiction, or a mental health disorder, call Sabino Recovery today at (844) 227-7014. Healing begins with Sabino Recovery.
