Counseling Influences: Part 1 - Adlerian Theory

I'm starting a new blog series about the counseling influences that shaped my training in the counseling field and inform my style of therapy.  I hope it is helpful to shed light on what to expect from me as a person and as a counselor.  The first influence I'll discuss is Adlerian Theory.

Adlerian Theory is based on the work of Alfred Alder, an Austrian psychotherapist and researcher in the early 20th century.  His theory focuses primarily on personality - specifically how it develops and how it can change over time.  The basic model for counseling can be broken down into four phases:

1. Engagement: The building of a therapeutic relationship between therapist and client to be able to work together to achieve the client's goals.

2. Assessment: The telling of a client's life story including personal history, family history, values, emotions, behaviors, and current relationships and situations.

3. Insight: Dialogue (primarily through asking questions) to explore new ways of thinking or feeling about the current situations or issues that brought the client to counseling.

4. Reorientation:  Encouragement from the therapist to reinforce new insights, beliefs, emotional responses, and behavioral changes the client may display.

Alder understood that every person is one of a kind and possesses a unique mix of private beliefs and strategies to achieve their goals.  Therapy can help clarify these differences, help clients overcome feelings of insecurity, develop deeper levels of connectedness, and strive toward their goals in more socially beneficial directions.

This outlines my underlying framework for my work with clients.  I try to go through the four stages listed above to first understand and connect with clients, then work to reframe the current problems to promote a healthy resolution and finally, to encourage and reinforce progress toward the client's goals.

For more information on Alfred Adler and Adlerian Therapy, here is a great resource.

Coming soon are Biblical Counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Family Systems Theory!