Question

Compare and Contrast: Psychoanalytical vs. Adlerian vs. Existential Therapy

Answer 1

Pschoanalytic therapy deals with the unconscious conflicts of the clients and looks to unearth their childhood memories and fixations which may have happend in their childhood. It focusses on the interaction between ego, id and superego and the defence mehanisms which the indivdual is using. Adlerian therapy is similar to psychoanalystic therapy than existential therapy. Adlerian therapy also recognizes the importance of early childhood and interaction of the child with others and parents. But this therapy focusses on the birth order, and inferiority/superiority and ones goal in life. It focusses on the indivdual striving for superiorty and achive succes in life. Existentensial therapy is different from these two appraches as it as more philosophical roots and focusses on ones existense and why a person is in this world. It focusses on ones awareness and role in this world, and unlike the two other appraches it does no focuse on early memeories and childhood conflicts.