Intentional Engagement: A Practical Guide to Curiosity, Co-Creation, and Therapeutic Presence

Adler said, “Individual psychology is committed to the principle of investigating the system of a psychological disorder along the path which the patient himself has taken.” Therapy in Adler’s model is a collaborative journey—two or more people walking a path designed and developed by the client. The client knows where the path leads: it is the job of the therapist as a fellow traveler to discover where the path leads as well as the obstacles and derailments encountered along the way. What characteristics define the stance of the therapist on this journey? What practices are essential for productive travel? Based on the authors’ experiences as Adlerian counselors, this article describes the practice of intentional engagement as a foundation for mutual respect in therapy and as the essential element in forming authentic, cooperative therapeutic relationships.