My Path to Adler

More than thirty years ago, I discovered the work of Alfred Adler while working toward a master's degree in theater arts in San Francisco. Although I had studied the theories and techniques of Constantin Stanislavski and Michael Chekhov, as well as the work of Lee Strassberg and "the method," I was searching for a better way to train actors and lead them to a more profound portrayal of character. It seemed that psychology might have something to offer, so I began studying the writings of Freud, Jung, Adler, Rogers, Berne, Perls, and other theorists. More than the others, Adler's writings seemed to illuminate the roots of human behavior--I also found his vigorous optimism and humanistic philosophy of living inspiring. Finally, Adler's view of the personality was remarakbly parallel to Stanislavski's view of fictional character.

To discuss the application of Adlerian psychology to my work as a theater director, I met with several Adlerian psychotherapists. I chose to consult with Sophia de Vries, an Adlerian psychologist who had studied with Alfred Adler, Lydia Sicher, and Alexander Mueller. Her character seemed most consistent with the principles and spirit that I had read in Adler's writings.

The Adlerian principles helped me a great deal as a theater director--coaching actors, interpreting characters, and dealing with staff conflicts. But, more than that, a study-analysis with Sophia de Vries changed my life. I was amazed at her level of insight, compassion, and creativity, as well as her virtuosity with a Socratic style of questioning. My interest gradually shifted from analyzing and portraying fictional characters in stage plays to understanding and encouraging real people to improve their lives. That shift was accelerated when I met Anthony Bruck who had also studied with Adler. Although his personality and style of therapy was quite different from Sophia's, he too reflected a core congruence of character and Adlerian principles. By the time I had discovered the profound writings of Alexander Mueller, a psychiatrist who had studied with Adler, I was inspired to become an psychotherapist.

Sophia served as my mentor for over twenty years. She lived what she taught, and stimulated many of us to become our "best selves" as well as skillful psychotherapists. She encouraged us to study and re-study all of Adler's original writings, especially his more difficult clinical works, in order to gradually extract the subtle nuances of his wisdom. To this end we initiated the Adlerian Translation Project five years ago, so that students would eventually have access to all of Adler's important works. Having Kurt Adler, Alfred Adler's son, collaborate on this project, has deepened and refined my understanding of his father's writings.

Although I practice and teach in in San Francisco, the telephone and computer have made it possible to create a Classical Adlerian community all over the world. I have corresponded with many professionals and students who have expressed an interest in learning the original Adlerian approach. From personal experience, I recommend one path that can keep them on the right track--finding an expert Classical Adlerian mentor who can offer them the experience of training, case supervision, and study-analysis that is congruent with Adler's original teachings.

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Hello Again, by Ed Riemann, 1/23/97

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