My Approach
Welcome to Adlerian Psychotherapy+
Adlerian Psychotherapy+
Adlerian therapy serves as the foundation of my approach, complemented by additional techniques tailored to your specific needs and challenges.
Along with Adlerian principles, I incorporate evidence-based practices, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and specialized modalities, including Accelerated Resolution Therapy and HeartMath Biofeedback.
Learn more below about the principles and benefits of Adlerian Psychotherapy.
A little background:
Alfred Adler (1870–1937) was an Austrian physician who broke away from Freud’s psychoanalytic movement to establish the school of Individual Psychology. Adler’s work laid the groundwork for a pragmatic, solution-focused approach to therapy, emphasizing the connection between psychological health and social interest.
Adlerian Theory
Adlerian therapy is based on the idea that humans are naturally driven to grow, succeed, and find belonging. This approach, inspired by Alfred Adler’s work, highlights the importance of overcoming obstacles and pursuing socially meaningful goals to foster personal growth and contribute to the community.¹
Adlerian therapy empowers individuals to move from discouragement to confidence by building self-worth, setting meaningful goals, and strengthening their connection to others. As Adler stated, “The whole of human life proceeds along this great line of action—from below to above, from minus to plus, from defeat to victory.”¹
Key principles include:
Core Theoretical Components of Adlerian Therapy
Paul R. Rasmussen outlines seven core elements essential to understanding Adlerian theory:³
- Movement (Law of Movement): Humans exist in a state of constant movement, striving to overcome challenges and achieve goals.
- Teleology: Behavior is purposeful and goal-directed, striving for superiority over inferiority.
- Holism: The human condition is a holistic interaction of thinking, feeling, and acting within a social context.
- Phenomenology: Individuals interpret their experiences subjectively, forming private logic and fictional goals based on personal biases and perceptions.
- Lifestyle: Each person develops a unique style of perceiving and relating to the world, based on early developmental experiences.
- Life Tasks: Humans must effectively manage work, social, and love-sex tasks to live a fulfilling life.
- Social Interest: Optimal functioning occurs when individuals think, feel, and act with concern for the common good.
Adlerian therapy follows a structured process involving four key stages:
1. Establishing a Relationship:
Building a cooperative and friendly relationship where both therapist and client agree to work together.
2. Assessment:
Gathering information about the client’s early recollections, family constellation, and birth order to understand their lifestyle and worldview.
The Adlerian Approach to Therapy
3. Insight:
Helping clients gain “aha” moments to understand the roots of their challenges and recognize patterns in their behavior and thinking.
4. Reorientation:
Encouraging clients to accept responsibility for change and guiding them towards new, healthier ways of acting and thinking.
Common Questions
Adlerian therapy is pragmatic and solution-focused, emphasizing the understanding of an individual’s lifestyle and social context. It views people as discouraged rather than ill, focusing on fostering social interest and promoting positive change through a collaborative process.¹
Birth order provides insights into personality and behavior. For example, firstborns may seek to maintain their status, while second-borns might strive to stand out. This understanding helps therapists tailor interventions to the client’s unique lifestyle.²
Early recollections—memories from early childhood—offer clues about a client’s core beliefs and life approach. These memories help therapists uncover patterns that influence present behavior.¹
Adlerian therapy views dreams as rehearsals for addressing current issues and planning future actions. Dreams reveal insights into how individuals perceive and navigate their lives.²
Social interest, or the ability to care for and connect with others, is vital for psychological health. Adlerian therapy emphasizes developing social interest to enhance well-being and foster community connections.²
Lifestyle assessment explores birth order, family dynamics, and early memories to understand a client’s unique worldview. This process informs therapeutic interventions and supports meaningful change.¹
Adlerian therapy empowers clients to take responsibility for their actions by gaining self-awareness and applying constructive feedback. This fosters healthier, intentional decision-making.³
Adlerian therapy forms the foundation of my approach, but I integrate other specialized techniques, including:
•Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): Rapid trauma healing
•Biofeedback: Stress management and emotional regulation
Each method is tailored to meet the client’s unique needs, ensuring the most effective support for growth and healing.
What to do next
Step 1 – Ask Yourself
Are you ready for something to be different? Can you afford to stay the same? Are you ready to make one of the best investments in your future?
Step 2 – Get excited
Answering yes is the first step in the journey towards your goals. You are about to take a courageous step that will impact your life and those around you!
Step 3 – Reach out to me
Fill out the appointment request form. I work best with those who are ready and excited to change their life.
References:
1. Ansbacher, H. L., & Ansbacher, R. R. (Eds.). (1964). The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler. Harper & Row.
2. Griffith, J., & Powers, R. L. (2007). The Lexicon of Adlerian psychology : 106 terms associated with the individual psychology of Alfred Adler (2nd ed., rev.expanded.). Adlerian Psychology Associates.
3. Rasmussen, P.R. (2024). The Adlerian Model: Core Theoretical Components. The Journal of Individual Psychology 80(2), 99-115. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/jip.2024.a929765.
