From classrooms to communities around the world, Adler University’s commitment to advancing health outcomes, well-being, and individual psychology continues to resonate on a global stage.
This March, Adler University will bring that mission to Osaka, Japan, where President Lisa Coleman, Ph.D., along with several faculty members and students, will present at the International Adlerian Psychology Asia Conference 2026. A major international gathering, the event is dedicated to advancing Adlerian psychology across cultures, disciplines, and borders.
“Time to Blossom: Roots and Growth of Individual Psychology in Asia,” frames this year’s conference focus on the theoretical foundations and contemporary applications of Adlerian psychology, with attention to its cross-cultural relevance in clinical practice, education, and community-based systems of care.
“International scholarly convenings are central to the intellectual vitality of Adlerian psychology,” Dr. Coleman said. “They provide the critical infrastructure for cross-cultural theory development, methodological exchange, and disciplinary renewal. Adler University’s engagement in this conference reflects our role as a global contributor to individual psychology, and our responsibility to advance the field through sustained scholarship, doctoral education, and collaborative inquiry that shapes mental health and educational systems internationally.”
Dr. Coleman will lead a virtual breakout session, “Alfred Adler — Planting Gardens for Our Global Futures,” exploring the contemporary stewardship of Adlerian thought and how the University is applying it through practitioner education, community collaboration, and leadership models grounded in social interest. Center for Adlerian Psychology and Scholarship Director Marina Bluvshtein, Ph.D., will present “Adlerian Psychology: The Roots of Faith, the Sustenance of the Faithful, and What is Next” in person, as will Adler faculty members Jennifer LaCivita, Ph.D., and Jennifer Kotecki, Ph.D., who will share their collaborative work, “Using Art in Early Recollections of Growth and Encouragement.”
In addition, several Adler doctoral students will travel to Osaka to present scholarship and practice-based research that reflects the institution’s commitment to culturally responsive and community-centered mental health practice. They are:
- “Adlerian Therapy with Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD Women Across Cultures: Challenges, Opportunities, and Effective Therapeutic Interventions,” by Olivia A. Valdés, a student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program.
- “Main aur Meri Maa: Cooking Through Grief — An Adlerian Exploration of Intergenerational Healing in South Asian Families,” by Shazia Imran, a student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Couple and Family Therapy.
- “Cultivating Belonging Across Borders: An Adlerian Approach to Supporting International Students’ Mental Health and Academic Success in Japanese University,” by Jessica Backus, a student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision.
- “From Shared Screens to Shared Purpose: How Fandoms Foster Gemeinschaftsgefühl in Contemporary Culture,” by Rithika Naira, a student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program.
“The opportunity to present and connect with others in the Adlerian field in Japan creates an opportunity to bridge cultural perspectives on mental health support while demonstrating how Adlerian principles can address the unique challenges Western international students face,” said Backus, who will be joined by her sister, Elizabeth, a comic book artist who promotes mental health awareness through her creative work. “It’s meaningful to bring Adler University’s values to a global audience while also connecting with others to determine how collectivist societies interpret and apply Adlerian principles in their work.”
Adler faculty and students will present alongside international colleagues through keynote lectures, workshops, oral presentations, and poster sessions. To promote international exchange, major sessions will be translated into English and select Asian languages, with recordings made available following the conference.
“For faculty and doctoral students, participating in international scholarly exchange strengthens the integration of theory, research, and practice, while situating their work within a global intellectual community. That engagement is essential to preparing scholars and practitioners who can advance individual psychology in ways that are culturally responsive, methodologically rigorous, and socially relevant,” said Dr. Coleman.
Jointly organized by the Japanese Society of Adlerian Psychology (JSAP), the Korean Adlerian Psychology Association (KAPA), and the Tawain Society of Adlerian Psychology (TSAP), and sponsored by the International Association of Individual Psychology (IAIP), the conference highlights both the regional roots and global growth of individual psychology in Asia.