ABSTRACT
This chapter presents Adlerian couples therapy applied to the case of Natalie and David. The Adlerian approach involves helping couples to create or restore both social and emotional equality. The Adlerian therapist realizes the importance of education or psychoeducation in working with couples. Adlerian couples counseling emphasizes equality and mutual respect for the relationship. The problem behaviors that couples experience are understood by the Adlerian couple’s therapist as creative, yet perhaps ineffective ways that the individuals have been attempting to reach their goals whether conscious or unconscious. The Adlerian couple’s therapist understands the importance of monitoring the couple's psychological movement. There are four stages in Adlerian couple’s therapy: these stages are the relationship, assessment, insight, and reorientation. The Adlerian couple’s therapist focuses on the unsatisfying relationship and not the specific problems like affairs or lack of sexual frequency. Adlerians urge that couples practice the "platinum rule" where you love someone the way they want to be loved.
