Alfred Adler- founder, history, tenets, techniques, and applications

1. Adlerian Therapy
Amber L Garza
Theories of Counseling
Angelo State University
Multimedia Assignment

2. Adlerian Therapy Is…
an effort to
comprehend
and clarify
human
behavior
(Arnold, 1951) (Newbauer, n.d.)
Photo: Alfred Adler and a Young Girl

3. Founder of Adlerian Therapy
•Born February 7, 1870
•Obtained medical degree from University of
Vienna in 1895
•Began career as an ophthalmologist
(Adler University, n.d.)
Alfred Adler

4. Founder of Adlerian Therapy Continued
•Moved to a general practice near a circus
•Inspired by strengths and skills of the circus
performers
•Joined Freud, Rudolf Reitler, and Wilhelm
Stekel to start the Vienna
Psychoanalytic Society
Alfred Adler
(Adler University, n.d.)

5. Founder of Adlerian Therapy Continued
• Served as doctor for Austrian Army in WWI
• Worked as professor at Long Island College of Medicine
• Died in Scotland (1937) of a heart attack
(Adler University, n.d.)
Alfred Adler

6. History of Adlerian Therapy
• Established general practice near a circus and studied unique
traits of the performers
• Developed these observations into his organ inferiority theory
• Collaborated with Freud around 1902
• Named president of the Viennese Analytic Society by Freud
• Published his most well-known article, The Physician as Educator
in 1904
(Adlerian psychology/psychotherapy, 2007)

7. History of Adlerian Therapy
• Published A Study of Organ Inferiority in 1905
• Removed from the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society with Freud’s
encouragement in 1911
• Created Society for Individual Psychology with nine other men
in 1912
• Implemented consultant teams in child guidance for Vienna's
public schools in 1922
(Adlerian psychology/psychotherapy, 2007)

8. Adlerian Therapy- General Information
• Known as Individual Therapy
• Pioneered family counseling and group counseling
• Had an interest in improving the human condition
• Informed the public on psychological concepts
• Developed an interest in social interest, which consisted of
contributing to society and having a sense of belonging
• Promoted democracy
(Newbauer, 2015)

9. Five Major Tenets of Adlerian Therapy
1. We Desire a Sense of Belonging
• Groups define one’s identity
• Healthy social interest results in
well-adjusted individuals
• Cooperation and contribution to a
group are vital
• Maladjusted individuals put
themselves first
(“Five principles,” 2007)
(“AlfredAdlerQuotes,”2016)
Photograph- Alfred Adler with Quote, “"It is the
individual who is not interested men who have
the greatest difficulties in life and provides the
greatest injury to others. It is from among such
individuals that all human failures spring.”

10. Five Major Tenets of Adlerian Therapy
2. We Control Our Own Lives
• Change is always possible
• Active participants in own
destiny
• Reactions can be controlled
• Improvement always the goal
3. We Act with Purpose
• Behaviors are full of purpose
• Goals are not permanent
• Changing goals changes choices
• People can always change
(“Five principles,” 2007)

11. Five Major Tenets of Adlerian Therapy
4. We Form Our Own Reality
• Reality is self-determined
• Meaning of past events can
change, but the events
remain
• Individuals form their own truths
• Severity of challenges are
determined by one’s
approach
5. We are Holistic
• Individuals are composed of several
parts
• Understanding an individual
requires a look at the entire
person
• Individuals consist of themes or
patterns
• Parts of an individual work together
(“Five principles,” 2007)

12. Four Stages of Adlerian Therapy: Techniques
1. Engagement- therapeutic rapport is established between therapist
and client
2. Assessment- client speaks about lifestyle patterns, including minor
details
3. Insight- client is encouraged to change ideas about circumstances
4. Reorientation- client reinforces new beliefs with positive activities
(“Adlerian psychology / psychotherapy,” 2007)

13. Applications of Adlerian Therapy
family therapy
group
counseling
parent-child
therapy
individual
counseling
cognitive
therapy
substance abuse
programs
correctional and
rehabilitation
counseling
cultural conflicts
combating
poverty and
crime
(Curtis, 2014)
The ideas behind this therapy have been applied
in the development of many other theories:

14. Applications of Adlerian Therapy
Friendships
Develop
strong
friendships
Intimacy
Establish
romantic
relationships
Society
Contribute
through an
occupation
Individuals must master these tasks:
(Curtis, 2014)

15. References
• Adler University. Alfred Adler: Short biography and explanation of theories.
Retrieved from https://www.adler.edu/page/about/history/about-alfred-
adler
• Adlerian psychology/psychotherapy. (2007). Retrieved from Good Therapy,
http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/adlerian-psychology
• Alfred Adler Quotes. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.relatably.com/q/
alfred-adler-quotes
• Arnold, N. (1951). Adlerian psychology: 8 basic principles. Retrieved from
http://www.all-about-psychology.com/adlerian-psychology.html

16. References
• Curtis, R. (2014, April 17). Counseling theories. Retrieved from
http://counsellingtheories.blogspot.com/2011/01/adlerian-therapy.html
• Five principles. (2007, March ). Retrieved from Western Pennsylvania Society of
Adlerian Psychology, http://wpsap.org/five-principles/
• Newbauer, J. (2015). What is an Adlerian? Retrieved from North American Society
of Adlerian Psychology, http://www.alfredadler.org/what-is-an-adlerian