Adlerian brief therapy

Domain I · Psychodynamic & depth psychology · Bitter, Christensen, Hawes · 1998

What it is

Source caveat: the full texts of the 1998, 2000 and 2004 papers and of the books are not drawn on here. Procedures below reflect these works as they are widely reported. Specific claims are tagged.

Format

• Session count and format:
• No fixed session number is given in the sources. In common Adlerian practice, a family consultation can be a single demonstration interview with follow-ups, and individual ABT usually runs a handful to about a dozen sessions.

Questions to explore with your client

• What drew you to it, and what are you hoping it will change?
• Does it involve any substance, plant preparation, remedy or supplement? Has your doctor or prescriber been told, especially about any medication you take?
• Does it involve intense or unusual breathing? Have you been told about the medical conditions for which that is not advised?
• Does it involve fasting, a special diet or 'detox'? Have you discussed this with your doctor?
• Is it a group, retreat or community? How do they respond if someone wants to leave or raises a concern?
• Who runs it, and what training or registration do they hold?
• What actually happens in a session or meeting, and how often?
• What does it cost, and is there pressure to commit to more?
• How do you feel afterwards, in the hours and days that follow?
• Does it fit with, or clash with, the work we do here?

What practitioners of it watch for

• tasks set too big. Failure confirms discouragement.
• strong emotion (see Section 5). Keep the pace safe.
• the client feeling mocked. Use only within a solid alliance.
• global answers ("I'd be happy"). Ask for things you could see on video.
• directives the family won't own. Negotiate the form while keeping the function.

When to involve someone else

• New or worsening physical symptoms, or advice to stop or change prescribed medication: involve the client's doctor or prescriber.
• Signs of coercion, isolation from family and friends, escalating costs or secrecy: discuss openly and consider safeguarding.
• A crisis or thoughts of suicide: follow your crisis protocol. In the US, call or text 988; in the UK and Ireland, Samaritans on 116 123.

Drawn automatically from the guide's own sections. Stay curious: neither endorse nor dismiss what the client values, and check anything that matters against the full guide and its sources. Not medical advice.