Harnessing Adler's Healing Process

Abstract:The authors reexplore some of Adler's therapeutic formulations with the aim of presenting a renewed look at the meaning of psychological healing. They begin with Adler's concepts of mental health and psychological disorder and how Adler developed a healing process as movement toward greater community feeling. They discuss the processes of healing as a guiding ideal accomplished via treatment that requires practical, humane interaction. The process emphasizes the importance of the client feeling understood—with a holistic emphasis on both feeling and understanding. The authors use an alliterated conceptualization: client–clinician connection (mutual feeling), cooperation (mutual action), and common sense (mutual understanding) to describe movement in the healing process. The second half of the article offers a clinical illustration of how felt understanding between client and clinician can manifest practically.