Adlerian group therapy: the therapeutic community as a base for emotional change

Abstract

This article presents Adlerian group therapy as practised in a therapeutic community in Switzerland. There is a discussion of the theoretical basis of group therapy, group make-up, factors affecting therapeutic change and the appropriate therapist profile. According to Alfred Adler, humans are inherently social beings and they build an unconscious opinion of the self and of others over the first years of life through interaction with others. This “lifestyle” then guides their emotions, cognitions and behaviours throughout their lives. The lifestyle may feature errors that lay the groundwork for psychological problems. In group therapy, these mistaken beliefs can be corrected through confidence building, mutual aid among participants, the promotion of community feeling and therapeutic training in an open egalitarian atmosphere. It is crucial for the therapist to feel he or she is on an equal footing with participants, to be aware of his or her own convictions and maintain a modest attitude.