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Theory and Design in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Susan X Day , Iowa State University and University of Houston
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CHAPTER 5: Adlerian Psychology
Chapter Review
Adler's theory emphasizes the social influences affecting each individual, starting with the impact of family dynamics during early childhood. Interacting with siblings and parents each child operates from a particular social position, creating an identity within the context of these early relationships. The child also interprets early experiences and determines general conclusions about life and his position with others. Without effective parenting, children often establish a cognitive template based on limited perceptions and supported by fictitious generalities and private logic. Sometimes discouraged by hurtful incidences, the child creates strategies designed to protect him from feeling a sense of inferiority. With effective parenting, children still vie for positions within the family social unit, with each person sandwiched between other family members and each viewing life from a specific vantage point. Yet healthy strivings develop into cognitive structures supporting cooperative interactions, achieving mastery, and making useful contributions. Such early learning, either discouraged patterns or healthy ones, become the basis for unique, personal worldviews that dictate particular behavioral patterns and establish subsequent individual lifestyles.
Later in life, new experiences and interactions can be distorted to fit the person's cognitive sets and early social motivations, or can be opportunities to test the effectiveness of established behavioral patterns. Change in lifestyle patterns occurs only with great difficulty when the person recognizes mistaken views and is self-motivated to create a personal transformation. Therapists, as facilitators of individual change, determine the underlying patterns of the client's behavior and cognitive structure. Counselors analyze the client's lifestyle and interpret the client's unique motivations, encouraging the client to see that earlier conclusions are faulty. As clients review their interpretations of experiences, they may be unable to generate alternative views. With support, however, clients realize the interpretations they have given to life events could have alternative explanations and that interpretations have been colored by personal needs. Various techniques are used to change faulty thinking (reframing, the question, push-button, role playing, brainstorming, humor) and to establish new behavior (acting "as if," task setting, catching yourself, paradoxical intention).
The goal of therapy, and for the mental health of individuals, is to create useful lifestyles that contribute to society. Useless attitudes and behavior can be overcome through encouragement-helping individuals gain the courage to change. Healthy attitudes and behaviors recognize the need for all people to cooperate with each other to achieve goals that promote the common good.
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