The Case of Sally with Adlerian Therapy
The Case of Sally and Mid-Life Transition: An Adlerian Perspective in Therapy
Title: The Case of Sally: An Adlerian Perspective in Therapy
Author:
Document Type: Article
Subject Terms: Psychology; Adler; Adlerian
Abstract: Examines the counseling case of Sally in perspective of an Adlerian view. Sally’s somatic complaints and mistaken beliefs allows Adlerian technique to help her to experience a full life including career and social connections. Adlerian assumptions: Interpreting Sally’s record; Effect of Sally’s Birth order; Tasks for the counselor.
Full Text Word Count:
Sally’s predominant reason for coming to counseling is to alleviate a number of somatic complaints such as panic, anxiety, and possibly depression. Her physical symptoms have included: hot flashes, cold sweats, shortness of breath, tremors, fainting, heart racing, fears dying of heart attack, shakes, hot flashes, and cold sweats. Although there was no stated medical causes, hot flashes could be the beginnings of peri-menopause due to her age being 39 years old and although early, hormonal changes could be contributing to her distress.
I chose an Adlerian approach because Sally needs immediate help as panic can be debilitating and frightening and an Adlerian therapist can get to the core issues quicker than could a psychoanalytic approach. I would be concerned that an existential approach could exacerbate her problems and cause her to look elsewhere for therapy. An Adlerian therapist would look beyond Sally’s symptoms to the causes which could include the following: transitioning to mid-life and her role of parenting coming to a close, dissatisfaction with her marriage, feeling stuck about actually getting a job as a teacher, and feeling overweight. Although she takes pride in her role of homemaker, mother and wife, she is aware that she has lived for others and wants to become more motivated and assertive about her own life goals. That is, Adlerian
Title: The Case of Sally: An Adlerian Perspective in Therapy
Author:
Document Type: Article
Subject Terms: Psychology; Adler; Adlerian
Abstract: Examines the counseling case of Sally in perspective of an Adlerian view. Sally’s somatic complaints and mistaken beliefs allows Adlerian technique to help her to experience a full life including career and social connections. Adlerian assumptions: Interpreting Sally’s record; Effect of Sally’s Birth order; Tasks for the counselor.
Full Text Word Count:
Sally’s predominant reason for coming to counseling is to alleviate a number of somatic complaints such as panic, anxiety, and possibly depression. Her physical symptoms have included: hot flashes, cold sweats, shortness of breath, tremors, fainting, heart racing, fears dying of heart attack, shakes, hot flashes, and cold sweats. Although there was no stated medical causes, hot flashes could be the beginnings of peri-menopause due to her age being 39 years old and although early, hormonal changes could be contributing to her distress.
I chose an Adlerian approach because Sally needs immediate help as panic can be debilitating and frightening and an Adlerian therapist can get to the core issues quicker than could a psychoanalytic approach. I would be concerned that an existential approach could exacerbate her problems and cause her to look elsewhere for therapy. An Adlerian therapist would look beyond Sally’s symptoms to the causes which could include the following: transitioning to mid-life and her role of parenting coming to a close, dissatisfaction with her marriage, feeling stuck about actually getting a job as a teacher, and feeling overweight. Although she takes pride in her role of homemaker, mother and wife, she is aware that she has lived for others and wants to become more motivated and assertive about her own life goals. That is, Adlerian
References: Dumont, F. and Corsine, R. (2000). Six Therapists and One Client. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Wedding, D. and Corsini, R. (1995). Case Studies in Psychotherapy. Illinois: Peacock Publishers. Chandler, C. (December 1, 2009). Individual Psychology: The Journal of Adlerian Theory, Research & Practice, University of Texas Press. Corey, Gerald (2009). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 8th Edition; California: Thompson Publishing.