Starting at an early age, a unique style of life is created by the person and that life-style stays relatively constant throughout the remainder of life. Working toward success, connectedness with others, and contributions to society are considered hallmarks of mental health, as well as being motivated by goals, dealing with the tasks faced in life, and social interest. Birth order is considered important in understanding a person's current personality, yet the therapy is future-minded, rather than retrospective. (Psyweb Pro, 2006)
In Adlerian therapy, the therapist will gather as much family history as possible. This data will be used to help set goals for the client and to get an idea of the clients' past performance. This will help ascertain whether the goal is too low or high, and if the client has the means to reach it. The goal of Adlerian Therapy is to challenge and encourage the clients' premises and goals, to encourage goals that are useful socially and to help them feel equal. These goals may be from any component of life, including parenting skills, marital skills, ending substance-abuse, and almost anything else:
The therapist will focus on and examine the clients' lifestyle and the therapist and client will try to form a mutual respect and trust for each other. The therapeutic relationship is collaborative, and assumptions, beliefs, feelings, choices and decisions are examined, in order to ensure that they are realistic and life-enhancing. The client and therapist will then mutually set goals and the therapist will provided encouragement to the client in reaching the goals. The therapist may also assign homework, set up contracts with the client, and make suggestions on how the client can reach the goals. (CTA: Cognitive Therapy Associates, 2006)
This humane and sympathetic form of client-therapist relationship is mutually rewarding, in that the client is encouraged and goal-oriented, and the therapist is able to take a positive view toward their client and feel rewarded when progress...
This approach depends upon the client knowing their weaknesses, but feeling that they can be successful when an effort is made to overcome them. The weakness is that a severely depressed or psychotic client will not be able to respond well to this type of therapy, unless the therapy is long-term. However, the basic attitude of the patient can be changed through mental exercises and knowledge of oneself. Light depression and anxiety may be relieved through Adlerian therapy, and lives can been changed when conflicts are resolved. The basic approach to the client, positive and supportive, by the therapist, is refreshing. It is an accepting attitude that might be termed "Christian," as Christ was said to accept the blind and lame, the infirm and the "possessed," and through their faith "made them whole." A counselor would do well to study Adlerian Therapy if their attitude toward mental illness is optimistic. It is a therapy that, if studied, might help the healer, as well as the sick. Understanding oneself and having an optimistic view of the future, knowing one will become a success, is crucial in all aspects of life, including the workplace.
This is the sort of therapy that this therapist would use, given the opportunity, with all kinds of mental illnesses. It appears optimistic, with attainable goals and positive benefits for all.
References
Adlerian Psychology, Psyweb.com 2006, http://psyweb.com/Mdisord/MdisordADV/AdvPsych.jsp (Retrieved August 20, 2006)
Corey, Gerald (1991) Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy
Carlson, Neil R. (1995) Foundations of Physiological Psychology
CTA: Cognitive Therapy Associates, http://www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/therapy/adlerian-therapy.php
Griffith, W.H.,Levinson, D.,Levinson, M.L. (1997) Complete Guide To Psychotherapy Drugs and Psychological Disorders
Infoplease Encyclopedia, (Retrieved August 20, 2006), www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0860565.html
