Educating the Next Generation of Psychotherapists: Considering the Future of Theory and Practice in Adlerian Psychotherapy

This article reports on the 2015 Ansbacher Lecture. It describes the increasing demands for professional accountability in psychotherapy practice as well as in training. Then, the cutting-edge psychotherapy training program at Florida Atlantic University is presented as a response to these demands. Finally, it proposes that this program enhances Adlerian psychotherapy theory and practice by “extending” Adlerian lifestyle assessment with a theory and practice-compatible treatment method. In the fall of 2014, I was invited to present the Ansbacher Lecture on May 28, 2015 at the 63rd annual conference of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology in Philadelphia. The invitation provided me an opportunity to reflect on my relationship with Heinz Ansbacher, one of the namesakes of this lecture, over a span of more than 30 years, and his influence on my professional life.