Alfred Adler is the founder of individual psychology, a theory for understanding human development and a holistic and systemic approach to psychotherapy. Through this strength-based model, Adler did not view people with symptoms as sick, but instead conceptualized them as discouraged and in need of encouragement. The concept of the individual in individual psychology is not meant to emphasize individualism. Rather, Adler suggested humans are indivisible and cannot be understood by reducing them to separated parts. He emphasized the importance of understanding people in terms of their whole complex self in the context of their social relationships and environment. These principles of understanding individuals within their systemic context are applied with couples by understanding the social dynamics and patterns of the couple, encouraging their strengths, ...