Introduction to the Neo-Adlerian Approaches to Psychotherapy Special Issue, Part 2

This is the second part of the special issue devoted to neo-Adlerian approaches to psychotherapy. In Part 1 (Vol. 73, No. 2), following my introduction to the special issue, we were treated to articles providing an introduction to neo-Adlerian approaches, a comparison with Cognitive Behavior Therapy approaches, humanistic approaches, constructivist approaches, and finally Melanie Klein's therapy. In Part 2, this issue, there are articles providing an Adlerian comparison with rational emotive behavior therapy, reality therapy, career counseling, marriage and family therapy, and positive psychology.

The opening contribution is by Debbie Joffe Ellis, who looks at how rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is rooted in the ideas of Alfred Adler. Debbie shares her late husband Albert Ellis's recognition of the debt that he as well as most other approaches owe to Alfred Adler. She clearly describes REBT, including its specifics and its compatibility with Adlerian therapy.

Since the passing in 2013 of William Glasser, who viewed many of Alfred Adler's ideas as similar to his own, Pat Robey and Robert Wubbolding have emerged as the major spokespersons for reality therapy. They join with Adler University doctoral student Michelle Malters to compare these two popular therapies.

The field of career counseling also owes a debt to Alfred Adler. Kevin Stoltz and Marty Apodaca will help the reader to understand the wide influence that Adler has had on helping people to deal with the life task of work.

Today's marriage and family therapists (MFTs) seem to have little knowledge about the important role that Alfred Adler played in developing this professional specialty. His live demonstrations in the child guidance centers of Vienna were perhaps one of the earliest examples of systems thinking and counseling the entire family. The field of family counseling has been analyzed by James Bitter and Jon Carlson to show the seemingly unrealized debt that this specialty owes Alfred Adler.

Richard E. Watts returns along with Bengü Ergüner-Tekinalp to show that Adler should be credited as the founder of positive psychology. They show how Adler's basic tenets and focus on strengths, health, and prevention are compatible with the main principles of positive psychology.