Individual psychology

Individual psychology (German: Individualpsychologie) is a psychological method and school of thought founded by the Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler. The English edition of Adler's work on the subject, The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology (1924), is a collection of papers and lectures given mainly between 1912 and 1914. These papers provide a comprehensive overview of psychology and emphasizing the indivisible unity of the personality.

In developing individual psychology, Adler broke away from Freud's psychoanalytic school. While Adler initially termed his work "free psychoanalysis", he later rejected the label of "psychoanalyst". His method, which involved a holistic approach to character study, was highly influential in late 20th-century counseling and psychiatric strategies.

The term "individual psychology" refers not only to the individual but also to the patient as an indivisible entity. Adler stated that one must consider the patient's entire environment, including their social connections.