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The Impact of Social Media on Personal and Professional Lives: An Adlerian Perspective

A Pew Research Internet Project report indicates that 73% of adults online use some kind of social networking site (Duggan & Smith, 2013). Given this widespread “social” behavior, Adlerian mental health providers should comprehend the positive and negative impact of social media use. This article defines and applies holism, teleology, striving, and phenomenology to interpret current research on social media use. Social interest and community feeling guide the analysis of the positive versus the negative impact of this now-common human practice. Social media use can educate and reduce isolation of clients demonstrating its practicality and pragmatism. Clinicians’ and clients’ lack of awareness and knowledge of the impact of social media use on their relationships connotes a risk. Solutions are provided to help maintain and deepen the therapeutic relationships. Interpretations of specific social media behavior are offered through an Adlerian lens of striving and phenomenology to underscore the need to look at motivation and context while understanding someone’s behavior.