Adlerian work / ADL-A13-1
Purpose without Blame — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind purpose without blame and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Morgan withdraws from a group when conversation becomes competitive.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. A behavior can have a short-term function without being deliberate or freely chosen.
The idea
A behavior can have a short-term function without being deliberate or freely chosen.
An ordinary example
Morgan withdraws from a group when conversation becomes competitive.
What this can look like
Explore what a coping behavior helps avoid or obtain and list contextual pressures before considering alternatives.
Check the fit
What need does the withdrawal serve, and what else might support it? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
Encouragement is not reassurance that everything will work out, and contribution does not determine human worth.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What need does the withdrawal serve, and what else might support it?
Conceptual background
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application — Adler Graduate School
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.