Classical Adlerian Psychotherapy - Adler's Psychotherapy

Adler's Psychotherapy

Adler's therapy involved identifying an individual's private life plan, explaining its self-defeating, useless and predictable aspects, and encouraging a shift of interest towards social and communal goals. Among the specific techniques used were paradoxes, humorous or historical examples, analysis of the self-protective role of symptoms, and reduction of transference by encouraging self-responsibility. Adler also favoured what has been called 'prescribing the symptom' - a form of anti-suggestion aimed at making the client's self-defeating behavior less attractive to them.

Based on a growth model of the mind, Adler's approach aimed at fostering social interest, and reducing repetitive life styles based on archaic private logic. With its emphasis on reasoning with the patient, classical Adlerian therapy has affinities with the later approach of Cognitive behavioral therapy.