Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology And Stages Of Counselling

Alfred Adler (1870 – 1937) was a doctor and psychologist. He was one of the founder members of the psychoanalytic movement along with Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Like Jung, Adler eventually developed his own theories which he called Individual Psychology and broke away from the psychoanalytic movement. Freud had accused him of being contrary in his approach which began the split. Adler also developed a staged approach to counselling:

The Therapeutic Relationship

Adler believed that empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness were important in the therapeutic relationship. He also included warmth and self disclosure in this stage.

Psychological Investigation

This encompassed the subjective situation (what is happening within the client), the objective situation (what is happening in their external world), the fundamental question (how would the client feel if their issues were resolved) and lifestyle analysis (the client’s early life and family dynamic).

Interpretation

A sharing of attitudes about life and self that take place between client and counsellor. Adler saw the focus as being on goals and purpose rather than the causes of the client’s issues.

Reorientation

The client and counsellor formulate a plan through two approaches 1. Encouragement and caring, which Adler called ‘stroking’. 2. Discussing faulty thinking and self defeating behaviours, which Adler called ‘spitting in the soup’. In other words discouraging the client from pursuing these behavioural and thinking styles.