Evaluating Client Profile 1 Using Adlerian Approach
Evaluating Client Profile 1 Using Adlerian Approach
Joe’l M. Scott
Walden University
In the case study provided client Abby blames herself for her husband’s lymphoma diagnosis. She refuses to take her husband to medical appointments because she fears it will send her over the edge. Abby cries, drinks 2-3 times per week with 1-2 drinks per occasion, eat and sleep very little to cope with her husband’s illness. She also admits to never having an appropriate method of coping with stressors. Prior to this stressor Abby has always felt unhappy, hopeless and had a low self-esteem. Abby only has a strong relationship with her mother and rarely communicates with her five siblings. The best approach to utilize in the case of Abby is Adlerian created by Alfred Adler. The approach focuses on the unity of the person and on understanding the individual’s subjective perspective. By obtaining a small amount of data about the patient’s present life situation and her family origin, the counseling professional can gain a basis for understanding how the patient developed her unique way of acting and reacting to the physical and social stresses of life (Townes, 1976). The client-therapist relationship is based on mutual respect, and both client and counselor are active. I chose the Alderian approach because it has shown promise in treating conduct disorders, antisocial disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and some affective disorders (Seligman, 1986). The most common therapeutic techniques of Adlerian therapy include investigating the client’s lifestyle, or basic orientation toward life. This is done systematically by exploring “three entrance gates to mental life.” The first of these is birth order, or one’s position within the family and the resulting expectations and roles that typically result from it. The second is early recollections that encapsulate one’s present philosophy of
Joe’l M. Scott
Walden University
In the case study provided client Abby blames herself for her husband’s lymphoma diagnosis. She refuses to take her husband to medical appointments because she fears it will send her over the edge. Abby cries, drinks 2-3 times per week with 1-2 drinks per occasion, eat and sleep very little to cope with her husband’s illness. She also admits to never having an appropriate method of coping with stressors. Prior to this stressor Abby has always felt unhappy, hopeless and had a low self-esteem. Abby only has a strong relationship with her mother and rarely communicates with her five siblings. The best approach to utilize in the case of Abby is Adlerian created by Alfred Adler. The approach focuses on the unity of the person and on understanding the individual’s subjective perspective. By obtaining a small amount of data about the patient’s present life situation and her family origin, the counseling professional can gain a basis for understanding how the patient developed her unique way of acting and reacting to the physical and social stresses of life (Townes, 1976). The client-therapist relationship is based on mutual respect, and both client and counselor are active. I chose the Alderian approach because it has shown promise in treating conduct disorders, antisocial disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and some affective disorders (Seligman, 1986). The most common therapeutic techniques of Adlerian therapy include investigating the client’s lifestyle, or basic orientation toward life. This is done systematically by exploring “three entrance gates to mental life.” The first of these is birth order, or one’s position within the family and the resulting expectations and roles that typically result from it. The second is early recollections that encapsulate one’s present philosophy of
References: Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Parrott, L. (2003) Counseling and psychotherapy (2nd ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc. Seligman, L. (1986). Diagnosis and treatment planning in counseling. New York: Human Sciences Press. Townes, C. D. & Ireton H. R. (1976, June) The Alderian approach: a practical psychology for family practice. THE JOUNRNAL OF FAMILY PRACTICE, Vol. 3(3), 277-280