Purpose of the Matrix

For a clarification of the purpose of the matrix, please read "The Stages of Psychotherapy" section of Classical Adlerian Theory and Practice at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/hstein/theoprac.htm . (A segment is quoted below.)

For teaching purposes, Adlerian psychotherapy can be divided into twelve stages, and within each stage, cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes are gradually promoted. ...... The stages reflect progressive strategies for awakening a client's underdeveloped feeling of community. What we must remember, however, is that the actual therapy is very spontaneous and creative and cannot be systematized into steps to which we rigidly adhere. Empathy and encouragement, although emphasized at certain points, are present in every stage of effective psychotherapy.

Clients do not generally experience distinct "stages." They gradually gain courage to do what they have been avoiding in their lives. As they conquer old obstables and experience new successes, their feelings of competence, pride, and gratification increase. The better feeling of self can then be extended to making more reciprocal and satisfying contact with others. (Insight about the inferiority feeling, style of life, and goal can be unfolded gradually at this time.) As clients progressively correct their style of life mistakes and begin to function more fully in life, their growing feeling of interconnectedness leads to greater cooperation and contribution. The most dramatic experience for some clients is usually at the Goal Redirection Stage (after minimizing or dissolving the style of life) when a new psychological horizon opens up--as their view of the world changes.

In the Classical Adlerian approach, we do not usually teach clients about the concept of life style or any other Adlerian construct. We use these tools as guidelines for our own understanding and landmarks to focus encouragement. Also, we try to express our interpretion of the client's movements and intentions in the simplest way possible, free of any professional jargon. Instead of inserting a stage of "client education," we prefer to lead a client to insight with Socratic questioning, throughout the entire therapeutic process. It sounds like you may have been trained in a more didactic and systematic style of treatment.

If clients express an interest in learning more about Adlerian psychology, we generally suggest that they first read Adler's What Life Could Mean to You; then we discuss their reactions and questions.

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.