Alfred Adler and the Path to Healing

Alfred Adler was one of the early pioneers of psychotherapy, and his ideas continue to influence counselling today. While many theories in psychology at the time focused on illness or what was “wrong” with people, Adler believed in looking at the whole person and the unique story of their life.

He recognised that our challenges, including trauma, do not define us. Instead, he believed we each have the capacity to find meaning, create new directions, and grow beyond our difficulties.

Adler’s Approach to Trauma

Adler’s work showed that trauma is not only about the painful event itself, but about the way we experience it and the meaning we attach to it. Two people might go through the same situation, but respond in very different ways depending on their inner beliefs, coping styles, and support systems.

For Adler, healing comes from:

• Understanding the story you tell yourself about your past and your pain.

• Reframing feelings of inferiority (like “I’m not good enough”) into opportunities for growth.

• Finding connection and belonging, as isolation can deepen wounds.

• Creating new choices, instead of feeling stuck in old patterns.

This view is empowering because it says trauma may shape us, but it does not have to define us.

Key Ideas in Adler’s Theory

• Inferiority and Compensation – Adler believed feelings of inferiority are a normal part of being human. What matters is how we respond — do we get stuck in them, or do we use them as motivation to grow?

• Striving for Significance – deep down, every person wants to feel they matter and that their life has meaning.

• Social Interest (Gemeinschaftsgefühl) – healing and growth are supported through relationships, community, and contribution to others.

• Lifestyle – each person develops a unique “style of life” — a pattern of beliefs, behaviours, and goals that shapes how they face challenges. Therapy helps bring awareness to this and opens up new possibilities.

His Book: Understanding Life

In his book Understanding Life (1927), Adler set out to make psychology clear and practical for everyday people. He explained how our experiences, choices, and relationships all shape who we become — and how by understanding these patterns, we can live more freely.

Adler wrote that while suffering and trauma can weigh us down, they can also become turning points, leading us toward resilience, creativity, and deeper connection with others. His ideas encourage us to approach life with courage and compassion, both for ourselves and those around us.

Quotes from Adler

“Meanings are not determined by situations, but we determine ourselves by the meanings we give to situations.”

“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.”

“Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.”

Why Adler’s Work Still Matters

Adler reminds us that we are not prisoners of our past. Even after trauma or hardship, we can reshape the meaning of our story, find belonging, and move towards lives filled with purpose. His compassionate approach offers hope — showing that healing is not about erasing what happened, but about discovering strength, meaning, and connection through it.