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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

The Adlerian perspective of therapy primary therapeutic views is: questioning a clients’

wrong concept of flawed statements, giving support so clients useful can live up to the

expectations required in their community. The relationship that originates between the client

and therapist evolves around the following key aspects:is founded on mutual admiration, both
 parties are proactive; the individual aware that they are liable of their actions and its emphasis is

centered on the individuals’ daily life. The therapeutic methods used are: attending, support,

confrontation, paradoxical intention, summarizing, and interpretation of early recollection,

suggestion, and homework assignments.

Cited Works

Internet References

Neil, James Jr. (22 Sep 2003) Critique of Psychoanalytic Theory Retrieved January 13, 2009

from http://wilderdom.com/personality/L89CritiquePsychoanalyticTheory.html