The International Association of Individual Psychology (IAIP) — the oldest Adlerian organization in the world — re-elected Adler University’s resident Adlerian, Marina Bluvshtein, Ph.D., to serve as president for a second term during the 29th Congress of the IAIP, held on July 4-7 in Cologne, Germany.
“I’m so grateful to have the trust of my international colleagues to continue serving and working on the goals we’ve set out on my first term,” said Dr. Bluvshtein, director of the Center for Adlerian Practice and Scholarship. “My goals have included encouraging more collaboration among our member organization, and to make sure all members are welcomed and supported in their work.”
IAIP currently has about 30 member organizations around the world, including Adler University, the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP), ICASSI, and many other organizations on four continents. Its headquarters is in Vienna, Austria at the Alfred Adler Center International.
Dr. Bluvshtein gives a keynote address to the 29th Congress of the International Association of Individual Psychology.
The IAIP was created to bring together the organized bodies of Individual Psychology throughout the world and to provide a forum for international dialogue, collaboration, and cooperation among these various bodies to further the development and application of Individual Psychology. Its aim is to mutually encourage the members’ respective activities, to support their good fellowship, and to enable them to make separate efforts part of a common cause.
Dr. Bluvstein with adjunct faculty Sara Saeedi, Psy.D., at the 29th Congress of IAIP.
Dr. Bluvshtein added that her goals during her second term include revisiting the organization’s Constitution — which was constructed by members in Europe and North America. In recent decades, the IAIP has expanded to various countries in Southeast Asia and South America. Another goal is to assist newer and smaller organizations with connecting with other IAIP members and each other.
“When the Congress is held in Europe, like this year, it can be difficult for our members in Taiwan, South Korea, or Uruguay to attend because of the distance and cost,” she said. “I’d like the IAIP to help support all our members, possibly providing some seed money for some of these organizations to start regional conferences. We’re all working to accomplish a common cause.”
Dr. Bluvshtein received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a Specialization in Geriatric Clinical Psychology from the Harold Abel School of Psychology at Capella University. Before coming to Adler University in 2016, she held a position with the Adler Graduate School of Minnesota as the director of online education and special projects, director of Adlerian studies and online education, and director of the Adlerian studies program.
Last year, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award during NASAP’s annual conference.
As director of the Center for Adlerian Practice and Scholarship, Dr. Bluvshtein supports, educates, trains, and engages people and communities interested in Adlerian psychology. The Center conducts research, works on archival materials, and serves as a clearinghouse of all things Adlerian. It partners with students, faculty, and staff at all three Adler University campuses, and with Adlerians worldwide.
With the theme “The Self, the Others, and the World: Closing the Gap,” the 29th Congress welcomed more than 300 participants, representing member organizations around the world. As president of the IAIP, Dr. Bluvshtein gave an opening keynote speech focused on the Adlerian approach to the nature of tyranny and its implications for current life.
Dr. Bluvshtein with Danielle Marasa, a fourth-year student in the Psy.D. program. Marasa presented a poster based on her dissertation on psychological birth order and its relationship to eating disorders.
Dr. Bluvshtein was joined by a handful of members of the Adler University community, including adjunct professor Sara Saeedi, Psy.D., who joined a panel to present and discuss the use of social media in Adlerian teaching, and Danielle Marasa, a fourth-year student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program, who presented a poster based on her dissertation on psychological birth order and eating disorders.
“I encourage more of our Adler faculty and students to take advantage of these international events to collaborate and connect with fellow Adlerians,” Dr. Bluvshtein said. “The IAIP sets the highest standards in research and provides attendees the chance to see what research is being done around the world.”
The 29th Congress was hosted by the German Society of Individual Psychology. The 30th Congress of IAIP will be held in 2027 in Italy.