Give Apply Info

Request Information

You need a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to enroll in Adler University programs.

Okay

Advanced Adlerian Psychotherapy Psy.D. Emphasis

Back to Program Overview

Specialize your Psy.D. Program with an Emphasis in Advanced Adlerian Psychotherapy

Students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program can choose an emphasis to focus on a specific area in clinical psychology. Students apply to an emphasis of choice during their first or second year of study. During their first year, students interested in pursuing an emphasis should become acquainted with admissions criteria for their emphasis of choice, meet with the emphasis coordinator during the first year in the program, and attend emphasis activities.

Advanced Adlerian Psychotherapy Psy.D. Program

Adlerian theory is a strength based and collaborative practice that emphasizes encouragement, belonging, and empowerment. We examine past and present conscious and nonconscious motivations and schemas or convictions in their social-cultural context. We conceptualize symptom development from a biopsychosocial viewpoint emphasizing the reaction to lack of felt equality and belonging in the community.

Adlerian theory combines systemic, cognitive-behavioral and psychoanalytic theory. Systemic in that we understand clients’ conscious and unconscious motivations and behaviors after reviewing the multiple systems and relationships they are embedded in. Adlerians examine the current cognitive schemas and behaviors and value understanding clients using a biopsychosocial approach. We inquire about the dynamics of the family of origin and value the therapeutic relationship.

Impact of Some Adlerians & Adler

  • Person-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, Cognitive Theory, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Logotherapy, Strategic therapy, Constructivist therapy, Positive Psychology, and Family Therapy can trace their origins in Adlerian ideas (Carlson & Englar-Carlson, 2017).
  • Mamie and Kenneth B. Clarks’ dolls studies influence the decision in favor of not segregating children in school in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka.
  • The school founders’ Rudolf Dreikurs, Bernie Shulman, and Harold Mosak helped to establish the Illinois Psychological Act creating the license for clinical psychologists.
  • Adlerian parent education and Adlerian play therapy are Evidence-Based Practice.

Training Requirements

Student can either attend the NASAP Annual conference (two days of full training), ICASSI (one week of activities), or watch previously recorded case consultation hours (15 hours) on adlerpedia.org.

Dissertation Requirement

Doctoral students seeking this emphasis must have an Adlerian focus for their dissertation. However, this focus may include other areas of interest.

Total Credit Hours Required: 15

Request Information

      You need a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to enroll in Adler University programs.

      Okay

      Explore More

      Elevating Latino Leadership: Adler's Alex Perez joins CLCF Academy

      The CLCF Leadership Academy program was created in 2018 in response to a pressing need for Latino leadership development and is designed to bridge leadership gaps in both public and private sectors by creating a robust talent pipeline.

      Learn More

      From training to career: In increasing access to care, community health settings play outsize role

      At partner sites, Adler students under the direct supervision and oversight of licensed clinicians offer a full suite of trauma-informed services, whether in-person or virtual.

      Learn More

      Adler alum keeps the mental health conversation going

      Today, as she helps launch a new program at Trinity Services, Inc. — a nonprofit that provides person-centered support to individuals with disabilities and mental illness — Klingbeil feels fortunate to find herself in another supportive environment where she can create safe, non-judgmental spaces for her own clients.

      Learn More