Alfred Adler Therapeutic Techniques

Flashcards covering Alfred Adler's therapeutic techniques for adults and children, including Socratic questioning, spitting in the client's soup, guided imagery, role-playing, catching oneself, task-setting, and specific techniques for children such as play therapy, limit-setting, and democratic discussion groups.

Socratic Questioning

A method used in Adlerian therapy to encourage clients to seek the underlying reasons for their style of life by using questions and gentle prodding to challenge self-indulgent tendencies.

Dialectical Method

Building an equal relationship between client and therapist with a give-and-take that encourages the client to seek the underlying reasons for their style of life.

Spitting in the Client's Soup

A technique where therapists attempt to show clients that their current ways of functioning are unhealthy, often using satire or other responses to challenge their perceptions.

Guided Imagery Exercises

A technique where therapists help clients mentally imagine new ways of acting and being in various relationships and situations as they prepare to change their style of living.

Role-Playing and Acting 'As If'

A technique where clients toy with the idea of a different, more highly functioning life by role-playing and acting as if their life was different, practicing new desired behaviors.

Catching Oneself

A technique that starts with listening to one's inner voice and being mindful of an upcoming behavior, helping clients identify their thoughts, understand their private logic, and see the relationship between their private logic and their behaviors.

Task-Setting

A technique used to help clients develop a new style of life that is more compatible with their unique personality style by identifying new ways of being and developing specific steps they can take in the change process.

Building a Trusting Relationship

Establishing a safe and reliable connection with clients, particularly children, to facilitate open communication and exploration of their feelings and experiences.

Art, Play, and Creative Therapies

Therapeutic approaches that utilize art, play, and creative expression to develop a trusting relationship with children and uncover their style of life by observing their behaviors and responses to objects.

Limit-Setting

Establishing rules and boundaries to change a child's negative behaviors, while considering that the child is exhibiting these behaviors to continue their current style of life.

Natural Consequences

Allowing the results of an ill-advised behavior to occur without intervention, letting nature take its course to teach the child a lesson.

Logical Consequences

Involves the intervention by an authority figure, such as a parent or counselor, who applies a 'logical' or 'commonsense' consequence to a child's behavior.

Assessment (Children)

Identifying a child's general style of behaving to assess their developing style of life and match appropriate interventions to exhibited behaviors, considering dysfunctional behaviors like attention-seeking, power, revenge, and inadequacy.

Responding to Identified Behaviors

Applying interventions once behaviors are identified, such as ignoring attention-seeking behaviors or using 'I-messages' to address unwanted actions.

Democratically Held Discussion Groups

Facilitating discussion groups based on democratic principles to help children develop increased social sensitivity and dissolve past ineffective ways of behaving by ensuring all individuals are heard and decisions are made fairly.

Commitment and Practice

Counselors consistently model healthy behaviors, encourage children regardless of their behaviors, are dedicated to children and the change process, and never give up on a child.

Phases of Adlerian Therapy

Building therapeutic relationship, assessing and understanding the lifestyle, insight and interpretation and reeducation and reorientation