Adlerian Terms/Therapy Flashcards
Acting “as if”
Used to help a client to change their behavior or attitude. It
involves asking the client to act as if a certain behavior or
attitude were true, even if it is not. Can help a client prepare for a difficult situation.
Example - if a client has difficulty expressing emotions, the
therapist might ask them to act as if they were comfortable
expressing their emotions
Analyzing birth order
Help clients gain insight into how their birth order may have
impacted their development and behavior.
Example - a therapist exploring how a client’s position in
their family (e.g. first-born, middle child, youngest) may
have impacted their relationships with siblings or other
family members.
Confrontation (Adlerian Use)
In Adlerian psychotherapy, this is used as a tool to help
clients gain insight into their behavior and to help them
make changes. It involves the therapist directly challenging
a client’s behavior, beliefs, or attitude in a constructive and
supportive way.
Example - a therapist might confront a client who is
avoiding an issue by pointing out that their behavior is not
Exploring social interest
Help clients gain insight into how their behavior and
attitudes may be impacting their relationships with others.
Example - a therapist exploring how a client’s tendency to
be overly critical or judgmental of others may be negatively
impacting their relationships.
Family Constellation
The relationships and dynamics between family members.
It is an exploration of how a family operates and the roles,
power dynamics, and relationships between each family
member.
Example - a family constellation might explore the
relationship between a mother and her children, or the
dynamics between siblings.
Focusing on the present rather than the past
Core concept which emphasizes the importance of focusing
on the present moment and the current situation rather than
dwelling on the past.
Example - a therapist helping a client to identify and
address current issues rather than focusing on past
traumas or experiences.
Lifestyle assessment
Tool used to help clients gain insight into their current
lifestyle and identify areas that need improvement.
Example - a therapist asking a client to complete a lifestyle
assessment questionnaire that covers topics such as diet,
exercise, sleep, and stress management.
Personal responsibility
Taking ownership for one’s actions; being accountable for
the consequences of one’s decisions and actions.
Push Button Technique
Used to uncover unconscious material from a client’s past.
This involves asking the client to recall a specific event from
their past, such as a traumatic experience, and then
pressing a button or a handkerchief that is placed on the
therapist’s desk. Doing so stimulates the memory and helps
the client to access and process the experience more
easily.
Reporting Early Recollections
Used to uncover unconscious material from a client’s past.
This involves asking the client to recall the earliest
memories from their youth, often from the age of two to
eight, and to report the memories in a narrative form.
Example - a therapist might ask a client to recall the earliest
memory of their mother and to explain the details of that
memory.
Self-Acceptance
Ability to accept oneself, including one’s strengths and
weaknesses.
Example - a person recognizing their flaws and accepting
them as part of who they are.
Self-Awareness
Ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions,
thoughts, and behaviors.
Example - a person recognizing when they are feeling
anxious.
Self-realization
Achieving one’s goals and potential.
Example - Pursuing a higher education degree to reach
one’s full potential.
“Spitting in the Soup”
Method of calling out a client out about their behavior, so as
to make it unpalatable and unappealing; in effect, spoiling
the client’s clear conscious of the behavior
Subjective Interviewing
Therapist asks the client questions and allows the client to
answer in a subjective manner, rather than in a structured,
factual manner.
Example - a therapist might ask the client to describe their
earliest memory of their mother, and the client might
answer with a description of the emotions they felt during
the experience.
