Adlerian therapy is best described as what?

• A. Humanistic and goal oriented therapy
• B. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• C. Psychoanalytic therapy
• D. Behavior modification

Answer: (A)

Adlerian therapy emphasizes a holistic, social, and purposeful approach, viewing people as choosing beings who strive for significance and belonging. Because of that, it is best described as humanistic and goal oriented. The therapy centers on the idea that individuals create their own lifestyles and make conscious choices to contribute to their communities, with encouragement and collaborative problem‑solving guiding the process. Techniques like lifestyle assessment and fostering social interest are used to help clients move toward meaningful, cooperative action.

This stands in contrast with cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing distorted thoughts and specific behaviors through structured techniques; psychoanalytic therapy, which emphasizes unconscious drives and early childhood conflicts; and behavior modification, which relies on reinforcement to shape behavior rather than addressing purposeful, socially oriented change.