NASAP: North American Society of Adlerian Psychology

NASAP is an association of professionals, students and lay persons united by their study and practice of the positive, holistic principles of Individual Psychology formulated by Viennese psychiatrist, Alfred Adler (1870-1937), and a desire to share practical applications of those principles. Membership, open to all, affords access to a welcoming community of leaders in the field, the latest research, education and mentoring. Members include mental health practitioners, family educators, teachers and school counselors, clergy, professors, authors, students, researchers, persons in business and organization development specialists. Core principles include understanding human behavior as socially embedded and goal oriented. The translation (from the German) of Adler’s theory title as “individual” psychology is better understood as “indivisible”: Adler conceptualized personality as undivided. He posited a mind-body connection confirmed in recent brain science and illness investigation. Adler identified the strong human need to belong, and to compensate for feelings of inferiority by striving to overcome. Adlerian Psychology is optimistic: “social interest” – concern for the welfare of the community – is a key concept. Adler’s principles form the basis for all positive psychologies, widely adopted counseling and organizational applications, and well-known, highly respected parent education programs. Through NASAP’s Journal of Individual Psychology, periodic newsletters, conference call seminars, an annual conference and the efforts of local Affiliate Organizations throughout the United States and Canada, members share research, experience, teaching strategies and refreshed approaches to the pragmatic ideas proposed by Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs, the founder of NASAP.