Adlerian therapy for depression: treating Susan's inferiority complex

¶ … Adlerian Theory

Based on the Adlerian theory (Alfred Adler), please write a critical analysis.

In the case study, Susan is suffering from mild depression and she is being treated with a prescription anti-depressant called Zoloft. This is associated with a series of negative events in her life. As, she is struggling with: a recent divorce and dealing with the possibility of being single. This has led to feelings of inferiority and resentment about the past. Over the course of time, this has caused Susan's mental state to continually decline. During the process of seeking out treatment, is when a referral came from her psychiatrist. The objectives in working with her, is to help Susan to be able to overcome these negative feelings about what is happening. To achieve these goals requires examining the different ways Adlerian therapy could be applied to this situation. This will be accomplished by looking at: the theory, treatment plan and pertinent interventions. Once this occurs, is when it will be clear as to how this approach can help to improve Susan's mental state.

The Theory

Adler's theory is based upon looking at the mental health of the individual by studying their social interactions with others. The way that is accomplished is through examining a number of different variables most notably: the relationship of the person with their family, friends and lovers. This will help the therapist to understand what experiences and events contributed to the current mind set of the patient. Once this occurs, is when the mental health professional can see how these issues are affecting the patient and the way that they are interacting with the world around them. This is when they will begin to see certain psychological traits that could be contributing to their poor state of mental well-being (commonly called the inferiority complex). An inferiority complex is when the individual feels that they are not good enough based on something that happened in the past. To deal with these issues they will often overcompensate by using a self-defense mechanism. This is when the patient will make everything appear as if they are fine. Yet, in reality they are having trouble dealing with people and the world them. This is because of these deep seeded subconscious feelings. Once this takes place is when the person will often engage in erratic behavior that is not considered to be healthy. (Boeree, 2006) ("Psychotherapy," 2011)

To deal with these issues, therapists will often have patients talk about these thoughts and the underlying meanings that they have associated with them. At which point, the therapist will begin to change the underlying feelings and emotions that an individual has tied to a particular event. To do this, mental health professionals will often use various forms of conversations with the patient to understand what happened. This is when they will begin talking about those negative feelings tied to a particular event. As they are using the emotions that are tied to these events, to feel bad about themselves (which is causing them to go into disempowering states). Once this occurs, is when the therapist can begin introducing strategies that will help the patient to go into positive states by having feelings of joy. This will redirect their focus and allow them to place a particular event into perspective. (Boeree, 2006) ("Psychotherapy," 2011)

For example, during a therapy session a mental health professional will listen to a patient's bad experiences with their ex-wife and how this had an impact on their romantic encounters with others. To address these issues, the psychologist will show how these negative events could be making the person stronger. As it is helping them to find someone, who can truly make them happy. Once this occurs, is when these empowering emotions can be redirected to change the way the person feels. This is important, because it is showing how the Adlerian approach is being utilized to change the meanings that are tied to incidents that have occurred to the patient in the past. (Boeree, 2006) ("Psychotherapy," 2011)

As a result, Adlerian therapy is focused on continually changing the state of mind by altering how an individual is thinking about various situations. This is when they will begin to have a sense of confidence about themselves and the world around them. Over the course of time, this can have a dramatic change in their mood by giving them a reason to feel good. This is the point, that the individual will be able to see some kind of long-term improvement in their underlying mental state. (Boeree, 2006) ("Psychotherapy," 2011)

Pertinent Interventions

The most effective interventions that should be used include: the equilibrium and cognitive models. The equilibrium approach is when the therapist is working with friends and family members to create some kind stable environment for the individual. Where, they want the person to see how: they are unstable and the way this is contributing to the various issues they are dealing with. This is the point that the individual will feel compelled to follow the directives of mental health professionals. (James, 2008, pg. 14)

While the cognitive model is when the therapist is examining how the thoughts of the patient are contributing to their underlying state of mind. Using this approach, they will question the way that specific beliefs of the individual are contributing to their current state of mind. Once this occurs, is when the mental health professional can assist the person in seeing how this has led to situations that will make them unhappy. This is when they will have more of an incentive to embrace these changes and follow the instructions of the therapist. These different elements are important, because they are showing how either one of these approaches can be utilized to push an individual to seek out some form of treatment. Once this occurs, is when they are motivated to make an honest effort in directly addressing the issues that are affecting their quality of life. (James, 2008, pg. 14)

When this is applied to the situation with Susan, it is clear that these strategies can be used in conjunction with one another to encourage her to become more involved in her therapy. As far as the equilibrium approach is concerned, the therapist must work with Susan's children and other family members (i.e. parents / siblings) to create an environment where she wants to change her behavior. As they could tell Susan, how they care about her and do not want to see her suffer. This is accomplished by making her feel very comfortable and discussing how this is impacting the various family members. Once this occurs, Susan will be in a more relaxed state and willing to accept new ideas. This is when the therapist can begin encouraging her to talk about these issues during the actual sessions.

In the case of the cognitive model, the therapist is utilizing this tool to understand Susan's thoughts and why she is feeling a certain way about particular events. Once this occurs, the mental health professional can begin understanding what is impacting her beliefs. This is when they can start to question these actions, by asking her what she was able to achieve. As they can highlight, how they understand what she is going through and the different ways that this has made things worse for her recently. It is at this point, that the therapist will be giving Susan logical reasons for wanting seek out assistance. This is when they can begin to change how she is looking at the world around her and discussing those thoughts that are contributing to a host of negative emotions.

The way that these two approaches can be used in conjunction with one another, is to create a number of reasons why Susan should change. As, her children along with other family members will help her to see how this is hurting them and contributing to increased amounts of instability. This is when the equilibrium approach is being used to influence the actions of Susan, by having her see that if she seeks out help there will be more stability in her life. As the family will feel; that she is dealing with these challenges and trying to improve her state of minds. Once this takes place, is when Susan will be willing to follow the directives of treatment plan.

At the same time, the cognitive approach must be used to deal with various thoughts that Susan has associated with past events. Where, the mental health professional is encouraging her to openly discuss them. They can then ask questions about: why she feels a certain way and demonstrate how this has been contributing to the current challenges she is dealing with. Once this occurs, is when Susan will see how these thoughts are leading the various issues that are adversely impacting her. This is the point that she is more willing to follow the treatment plan and have open discussions about what is happening.

If this kind of approach can be embraced, it will ensure that Susan will have several different reasons for wanting to change. As, she will see how: it will provide her with increased amounts of stability and more empowering thoughts. This is when she will follow the different provisions of the treatment plan by making an honest effort to deal with these challenges. Over the course of time, this will continue to motivate her to do more in addressing these subconscious issues.

Clearly, Adlerian therapy can help Susan to deal with the various problems that are contributing to her depression. This is because, she has deep seeded negative emotions and feelings that are tied to family related events. Where, she felt unloved and respected by her parents / siblings when she was growing up. This caused her to overcompensate and try to spend more time with her children (which contributed to her divorce).

Now, they are starting to resent her because she is not self-sufficient and their quality of life has decreased. Once this occurred, it meant that her underlying state of mental health went into major bouts of depression. As a result, by changing the thoughts that she has associated with these events, they will help Susan to shift her current mental state. This is when she can be able to see major progress in reaching the goals that are outlined as part of the treatment plane. Once this occurs, is when there will be significant long-term progress in her condition.