Adler Graduate School

The Adlerian approach to counseling and psychotherapy is based on the belief that mental health is derived from the ability to cooperate, collaborate, and contribute to the community. Social Interest, rather than self interest, promotes a healthy lifestyle.

The Adler Graduate School will be a leader in empowering and developing mental health professionals to transform society through social interest in action.Preparing mental health professionals with a strong Adlerian foundation to foster encouragement, collaboration, and a sense of belonging to the individuals, families, and the culturally diverse communities they serve.

The Adler Graduate School is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The Higher Learning Commission accredits and evaluates such things as governance and administration, financial stability, admissions and student services, institutional resources, student learning, institutional effectiveness, and relationships with internal and external constituencies.

In addition to teaching at the Adler Graduate School, the majority of the faculty are also practicing clinicians in private practice, with mental health and social service providers, hospitals, shelters, schools and colleges, other non-profit organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies. The faculty include licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed psychologists, registered art therapists, licensed school counselors, life coaches, parent coaches, and career development professionals. Many of the faculty hold the highest degrees in their field.

All faculty of the Adler Graduate School are committed to using their preparation, experience, and wisdom in effectively preparing students for the demands and the rewards of the profession of counseling and psychotherapy.The faculty are well-versed in the principles of Adlerian psychology and share an understanding of human need which is compatible with the worldview of Alfred Adler and other psychologists in a modern context. The faculty also understand the nature and importance of maintaining the small and personal atmosphere of the Adler Graduate School.

We have relationships with well over 100 internship sites working with children, adolescents, families, couples, adults, seniors, schools, crisis centers, hospitals, grief & loss support, mental health, spirituality, domestic violence, employment, ex- offender, parent support, education/learning support, and career services for students seeking licensure within all of our programs. These sites can be found across the state of Minnesota, the upper midwest, and around the country.The culture of the school and what it stands for is characterized as personal, human, warm, welcoming, accepting and encouraging, with an emphasis toward what is best for all.

Well before it was popular, Alfred Adler highlighted the importance of equality among all individuals in an effort to promote individual and societal health, including equality between women and men and a holistic view of the worth of each individual. Adler Graduate School continues these efforts in its commitment to providing increasingly diverse education to increasingly diverse individuals, to serve increasingly diverse communities.

Adler Graduate School is a service-centered institution that has influenced the Twin Cities and beyond for over 40 years.Courses are offered in the evening and on weekends.Learn in our convenient location near the Mall of America or, even more conveniently, in your home with our online emphasis areas including Adlerian Studies.

Our Heartstart Defibrillator is located just above our water dispenser in the kitchen commons area just north of the primary classrooms on the Adler Graduate School’s top floor. This defibrillator is user-friendly and, quite literally, cannot be misused.That is, you cannot hurt anyone with this defibrillator – only help them. It will not work if its use is unwarranted.

Despite its user-friendly qualities and apparent simplicity, attached is a link to a page which provides information and a demonstration concerning the use of our Heartstart Defibrillator.

Alfred Adler's individual psychology serves as the basis for this program that prepares students for careers in mental health, human services, and non-profit leadership that require an advanced degree in mental health without licensing.Students learn the foundational areas of psychotherapy and counseling and participate in research activities and experiential exercises designed to deepen their master of Adler's Individual Psychology.

Art-making in therapy is healing and life enhancing. Our unique Art Therapy program integrates Adlerian theory and technique into the creative and expressive realm of art therapy. Students maintain their artistic integrity while receiving specialized training in art therapy theory and practice through integrative and experiential courses.Students choose a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy or Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

Experienced faculty. Theoretical framework. Field experience. Our comprehensive competency-based curriculum and hands-on training prepares AGS graduates to work with a variety of clients. Students learn prevention, intervention, and clinical skills essential for effective and ethical clinical counseling practice.

Progressive approach to working simultaneously with both mental health and substance use disorders; helping the client and therapist work toward a more holistic, integrated, and positive outcome. The core program focuses on learning skills, evidence-based and emerging practices, and developing attitudes and competencies for working with clients, families and communities impacted by substance use and mental health disorders.

Community embedded, practitioner focused, Adlerian informed model. We prepare students to provide ethical, culturally informed, relationally based mental health services to a diverse range of clients in a variety of mental health settings.Our graduates are known as professional, ethically sound psychotherapists and can work serving families, children and adolescents, couples, and individuals.

K-12 school counseling. Adlerian focus. The School Counseling program guides its students toward gaining knowledge and skills needed to provide competent counseling in K-12 school settings. With a focus on school systems, culture, evidence-based practices, ethics, developmental psychology, and counseling for diverse and exceptional children, our program prepares graduates for school counselor licensure in any state.