An old man sat next to a well-traveled road when a vacationer approached and asked, “Are you acquainted with the town ahead? I am planning to visit and wonder what the people are like.” The old man answered, “What were the people like where you come from?” The man said, “They gossip, they are mean and horrible.” The old man said sadly, “That is exactly how you will find the people here to be.” Soon came another traveler and he also stopped to ask the old man questions. “How are the people in this new place? Are they friendly, are they kind?” The old man replied, “How were the people where you came from?” The traveler responded, “They were wonderful, they welcomed me from the day I arrived, and I made friends I’ll not forget.” The old man just said, “That’s exactly how you’ll find the people here to be.”

Alfred Adler directed people to “act as if.” He asserted that humans have the capacity to interpret, influence and create their own existence. Past circumstances and environment are not sentences imposed, but rather events almost completely subject to the individual’s own interpretations. Adler asserts tha

Should Jack not respond or improve in therapy, or if he should become suicidal and require hospitalization, outside psychological assistance will be sought. Early childhood trauma that is deemed to have a great impact on Jack’s functioning and development or causes him to continue in inconsolable pain may also constitute reaching out for extra assistance. Jack may be referred for psychoanalysis to explore traumatic issues that cannot be reconciled.

The therapeutic process then moves to the third phase, which centers on encouraging self-understanding and insight to help a client discover the meaning behind their behavior, making the unconscious conscious. The therapist makes informed guesses in a non-threatening manner to assist the client in gaining awareness. Clients are encouraged to accept personal freedom, create new meaning, and learn to trust themselves to find their own answers to their own questions rather than looking to others for validation.

3. The therapist helps Jack to understand himself better and develop greater insight into his own behavior.

Counselor characteristics, including strengths and weaknesses, are brought to the therapeutic setting. Adlerian and Existentialism stress the importance of the therapist-client relationship. The I/Thou component reinforces the therapeutic bond and encourages communication and trust. A counselor should be non-judgmental, open, honest, demonstrate healthy behavior and attitude, understand and practice appropriate disclosure, and demonstrate realistic thoughts and actions. (Granello and Whitmer, 1998.)

The therapeutic task progresses to stage two, which involves exploring the individual’s personal dynamics. Subjective and objective interviews are conducted to gain a larger view of the client’s outlook. The subjective interview allows the client to tell his or her life story while the therapist listens with empathy and understanding, taking note of clues that indicate the persons approach to life and overall concerns.

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