Seeing things differently ... is our legacy and our responsibility.

For the past 56 years, the Adler School of Professional Psychology has prepared outstanding professionals and advanced the work of the world's first community psychologist, Alfred Adler. Today, the Adler School continues this work, making social responsibility its primary focus and the driving force in all its curricula and initiatives. 

Aligning our work with society's needs means we believe psychologists must look up from their clients, see the systems and forces that brought their clients to them, and realize their responsibility and ability to change those systems and communities.  Our innovative and broadened curricula prepare students to work with individuals, families, and communities as socially responsible practitioners. 

For bigger image click here.

Our commitment to social responsibility has also driven the development of a bold new organizational structure.  In addition to creating Adler Community Health Services, which offers consultation and services for underserved and marginalized populations in our communities, we have also launched the Adler Institutes for Social Change.  Their purpose is to promote social justice through applied research, public awareness, and community outreach.  As our world grows more complex, the Institutes put our students and faculty in a position to address the challenges facing today's world.

The creation of the Institutes was borne from our fundamental belief that psychology's greatest benefits occur when our profession is practiced in collaboration with others in the community.  Socially responsible psychologists, for example, work with primary care physicians to improve total health care.  Or, they educate teachers and clergy to recognize the behavioral indicators of substance abuse, family violence, or depression, referring members of their community for the help they require.  They lead and manage community-based organizations that empower people to promote wellness in new ways.  Socially responsible psychologists also work with elected officials to analyze data and provide counsel on policy and programs that can generate the greatest benefit for the health and wellness of our communities.

Whatever the venue, we expect our faculty and graduates, as well our Institutes, to lead social change.  Developed carefully in consultation with internal and external stakeholders, this vision of social responsibility is revolutionary... a revolution we are continuing from Alfred Adler's ground breaking attention to community health and his courage to see things differently.

Raymond E. Crossman, Ph.D.
President

Click here to learn more about the Vision of the Adler School.