Adlerian work / ADL-A15-1
Encouraging Inner Language — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind encouraging inner language and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Morgan thinks one missed deadline proves permanent unreliability.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. Inner language can support agency without compulsory optimism.
The idea
Inner language can support agency without compulsory optimism.
An ordinary example
Morgan thinks one missed deadline proves permanent unreliability.
What this can look like
Replace a global self-judgment with a realistic statement of difficulty, effort, and a possible next step.
Check the fit
What statement is both kind and believable? 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 statement is both kind and believable?
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.