Adlerian Therapy Paper

Moving forward as an emerging professional counselor my personal theoretical approach has been developing throughout this semester. Although, I still have much to learn and I have a long way still to develop, my current theoretical thought is the integration of Adlerian therapy and Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Both incorporate strongly held beliefs that I possess, lie along the two BETA schools of focus that I prefer, and seem to make the most sense logically when combined.
Key Concepts/ Integration To understand why I align myself with an integration of Adlerian and Cognitive-behavioral therapy, the core principles of both need exploration. The first theory is Adlerian therapy. Several factors allow this theory to, not only be prominent

The first and most recognizable from the theory, is counselors helping the client to negate their built-up sense of inferiority. Adlerian counselors hope that through hard work, clients will be able to change how they view themselves in terms of power and superiority. The next major goal is to foster and build a sense of community. Adler believed that humans are social beings, and when our social needs are not being satisfied dysfunction arises. The last goal of Adlerian therapy is to redirect clients’ behaviors toward success. Basically, a client will be able to navigate their own lives toward a more socially productive and meaningful experience. Adlerian therapy falls under the background focused category of the BETA model. Adler believed that the past of an individual, their childhood and early family life, was the origin of dysfunction that could affect the client throughout their adult life. By examining the past, and by changing a client’s thoughts and behaviors through education, a client will be able to strive for perfection

I would use both of these together for many reasons. The first is the fact that both CBT and Adlerian are collaborative and goal-oriented, meaning I can be an egalitarian member with the client. It pulls in the moral principle of autonomy as well. Both theories adapt well to multiculturalism, especially for women (Adler, 2009). I believe that both theories pull directly from one another in many ways, all of which allow me to integrate them for my own unique theoretical orientation. The concept of inferiority seems to relate directly to the idea of dysfunctional schemas. Both are long held feelings that affect how you think and behave, they are built up over time based on how we perceive our past (Sperry, 1997). Another integral aspect I appreciate is the use of homework. I believe that as future counselor I will employ these techniques. It brings the counseling session home with the client and continues the healing process between each meeting. The last seamless integration of the two theories is how both complete the other. As mentioned before, dysfunctional schemas fit well into Adlerian theory. Negative thought patterns about family, like a faulty private logic, affect what individuals think and how they feel for years past childhood, and only re-education and awareness can bring change