Using an Adventure Therapy Activity to Assess the Adlerian Lifestyle

Abstract

The lifestyle is a central concept in Adlerian theory necessary for understanding a client and the purpose of behavior. Although there are a variety of methods counselors can employ to explore the lifestyle, to date, no literature addressing the use of Adventure Therapy (AT) exists. Adventure Therapy is a creative and interactive mode of counseling consistent with Adlerian theory that uses creativity and experiential activities to foster insight, awareness, and growth in clients. This article introduces a creative way to explore the client’s lifestyle using an AT activity called Ubuntu Cards©. The authors provide an overview of Adlerian theory, define Adlerian lifestyle, and explore traditional methods of assessing the lifestyle. The article also includes a detailed outline for using Ubuntu Cards© to assess a client’s lifestyle