Philosophy
Every single person is an Individual and every person deserves to be treated as an Individual.
A main premise of most psychiatry/psychology/clinical social work is based on Etiology – cause and effect. In order to understand the present, we must understand the past, and we must then address the past. Past trauma is causing current thoughts and behaviours. Once we understand our past, a main form of intervention is to change the way we think of the past, in order to change our current thoughts and behaviours. This is scientific, as well as common sense, and should always be a method of addressing mental health concerns and addictions. But what do we do if this type of therapy does not work for us? Can everyone address their past trauma? Can everyone change the way they think of their past?
Equally problematic, what happens if someone attributes all of their current problems, and all of their current thoughts and behaviours, to events that happened in the past? Under this scenario, we can never move forward. How can we move forward with such strong justification for our current thoughts and behaviours? Most books, and many mental health and addiction programs, will ask us to discuss the past (again and again and again), ask us to address the past, ask us to change the way we think of the past, and ask us to discuss how little support we have received from others.
In comparison, Individual Psychology is goal directed activity. Individual Psychology does not believe that the past has to dominate our current thoughts or actions. Instead, we can focus on the future, a future that we create by ourselves, for ourselves. Goals are what provide us with meaning and purpose, and goals are what motivate us. As such, the new role of health care is to help clients identify their goals, and then help clients to accomplish their goals.
What would happen if we just moved on? Imagine if we just did not talk about the past anymore. Our past will always be there, but we decide to start over. Imagine the possibilities if we decided to change our thoughts and behaviours today, and that the new role of health care is to help us get through today, while preparing for tomorrow (Individual Psychology). Imagine what we could do if we just moved on, and left the past in the past.