Monday, July 27

IP in Today’s World – Uti Landscheidt

Rudolf Dreikurs was born more than 125 years ago and passed away over 50 years ago. So how can we believe that, in today’s world of technology and artificial intelligence, his philosophy and Individual Psychology remain relevant and beneficial for everyone?

How can we assume that fundamental principles such as holism, Gemeinschaftsgefühl (social interest), and encouragement can stand the test of time for centuries?

Yet, Dreikurs’ ideas still have much to teach us. His insights into family constellations, private logic, life tasks, and mistaken goals continue to help us improve our relationships — in our families, our communities, and even in the political world. Wherever people live and work together, the principles of Individual Psychology offer valuable guidance.

By learning how to apply them, we can foster a deeper understanding of human behavior and connection.
So let us begin our Rudolf Dreikurs Summer School with a shared goal: to learn, to encourage one another, and to contribute to making the world a better place for everyone.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will understand the key principles of Individual Psychology (Dreikurs) and their relevance in today’s world.
2. Participants will recognize and explain core IP concepts (e.g. social interest, private logic, life tasks) in contemporary examples.
3. Participants will reflect on how Individual Psychology can inform relationships and social interaction today.

Tuesday, July 28

Playing with the Rules – Terry Kottman

In this experiential plenary, we will use Adlerian play therapy techniques to examine some of the rules by which we live.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will be able to use two different play therapy techniques to explore clients’ rules.
2. Participants will be able to list three of their own rules related to their professional work.
3. Participants will be able to list three of their own rules related to one of the roles they play (spouse, parent, child, etc.).

Wednesday, July 29

Intentional Parenting: Using the Crucial Cs to Understand and Motivate Children (with Demonstration) – Amy Lew

Adlerian parenting techniques usually focus on encouragement and redirecting misbehavior. Adding the Crucial Cs to traditional Adlerian parenting helps adults understand why children feel discouraged and supports parents in developing approaches that motivate children to find their place in the world constructively.

This plenary will discuss the four basic necessities we all share (the Crucial Cs: connect, capable, count, and courage) and demonstrate how uncovering a child’s discouragement can help adults support children in experiencing the Cs through useful means. A live demonstration will be included.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will be able to describe the relationship between the Crucial Cs and Adlerian theory.
2. Participants will be able to use the Crucial Cs to uncover the discouragement underlying a child’s misbehavior.
3. Participants will be able to develop a plan to foster the constructive development of the Crucial Cs.

Thursday, July 30

Understanding Safeguarding Responses in Trauma Therapy – Anthea Millar

Trauma can be seen as the ultimate experience of inferiority. When trauma symptoms are understood as safeguarding behavior — not only in psychological but also biological and social terms — a deeper appreciation of Adler’s holistic theory emerges.

This perspective highlights crucial aspects of trauma therapy. A live demonstration will illustrate principles of enabling dual attention while ensuring safety and stabilization.

Learning objectives:

1. Reconsider the Adlerian concept of safeguarding behavior in relation to complex trauma.
2. Explore a non-pathologizing bio-psycho-social conceptualization of trauma reactions.
3. Identify key principles for safe trauma therapy that enables dual attention and supports stabilization and connection.

Friday, July 31

Self-Care for Caregivers – Marion Balla

As caregivers, we must be alert to signs of distress and compassion fatigue as we juggle time, priorities, and personal and professional expectations.

This course presents current brain research on self-nurturing and self-soothing, identifies warning signs that require active self-care intervention, and offers strategies to support more balanced and boundaried daily lives.

Learning objectives:

1. Participants will examine signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout and assess their current level of stress or distress.
2. Participants will receive an overview of brain research related to the impact of secondary trauma on personal wellbeing.
3. Participants will practice strategies designed to increase balance, humour, and sensitivity toward self-care and self-management.