Welcome to The Connection,
NASAP’s Online Newsletter
July 2026 Issue
Dear Fellow Adlerians:
As I write this, I am only now coming down from the high of attending the 74th annual conference in Minneapolis. This was my second NASAP conference, and the first one at which I have presented. I was thrilled to offer a workshop and a three-hour training together with Miosotis Cotto on Exploring and Preserving Adler’s Unpublished Method of Lifestyle Assessment. The questions raised by attendees and the interest they showed in the method were truly rewarding.
Additional highlights for me included attending a workshop by Kay and Jean Kummerow on linking the MBTI to the Crucial C’s and a workshop by Len and Jon Sperry on Adler’s classic case study of Mrs. A. The Sperry’s workshop featured a special appearance by A.I. Adler. I also enjoyed a cooperative games session facilitated by Marjie Longshore. Tim Hartshorne’s Ansbacher lecture was beautifully personal and moving. One shocker was walking into the lobby and seeing my picture on a poster for those receiving the President’s Award. My thanks go to Hallie M. Williams for extending me this honor. As someone who only joined NASAP three years ago, the conference also offered a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and to connect with recently minted Adlerian friends.
Please enjoy the July issue of The Connection. I wish you readers all the best in finding your own connections to the broader Adlerian community, whether through conferences, trainings, collaboration, or other means.
Sincerely,
Ellen Alderton, Editor
President’s Message
D
President, North American Society of Adlerian Psychology
Updates from HQ, July 2026
By Susan Belangee, Ph.D., NASAP Executive Director
Earn Free Continuing Education Credits
Our thanks go to Rocky Garrison, Ph.D., who thoughtfully selects the readings for CE credits in each issue.
NASAP Section Update
News from the TLC Section (Transformative Leadership and Coaching)
Apple Pie Communications, a firm led by Ellen Alderton, offers consulting services in:
Grants: Ellen has won funding for numerous mental health projects including $1.25 million from the Lilly Endowment and $575,000 from SAMHSA. Besides grant writing and submission, she can support project conceptualization and design, build out budgets, and suggest and bring on project partners.
Writing and Editing: Ellen can research and craft compelling language for websites, press releases, funding reports, annual reports, and more. She has edited newsletters for NASAP, Mental Health America, NASMHPD, and other organizations and has worked as a reporter in Brussels and as a technical writer for the United Nations.
Lifestyle Assessment: Ellen learned a method of lifestyle assessment passed down verbally directly from Adler. She has lectured on this technique for NASAP, the UK Adlerian Society, and the Adler Institute in Suisse Romande. She offers private lifestyle consultations as well as training in the method.
To learn more, visit https://applepiecommunications.com/ or write to ellen.alderton@yahoo.com.
Adlerian Creative Piece
ME.... WITH YOU ALWAYS
Behind you, in front of you, next to you
By Shazia B. Imran
8 years ago…. I came to know you… but didn’t understand who you were what you did, how you felt?
I still think about you when you walked in my office, wearing a beautiful shawl.
I still feel you when I look into your eyes and saw you were staring at my office wall.
I still see you when you cried and put the pillow on your lap.
I still hear you when you were angry and loud and often snap.
I still hear the sounds of your stories that you once told.
I still smell the fragrance of the candles while your stories were unfold.
I do want to tell you that I am behind you to always encourage you.
I do want you to know that I am standing right next to support you.
I promise you that I am in front of you to lead you in the life process.
I remind you though I am far away now but still celebrating your success.
I still remember saying your name “Jewel”
My dear Jewel…... you are a brave girl…...
My wonderful first client...My reminder of the four C’s
My courage, my commitment, my connection, and my competence ……
This piece was inspired by Adler’s belief in social interest and the courage to be imperfect. Jewel’s story reminded me that showing up authentically and walking beside our clients in where healing begins.
— Shazia
The Fragrance Paradox:
Why the Scents We Love May Be Harming Us — and What Adlerian Psychology Reveals About Our Need to Belong
By Teresa Graye, Ph.D., Adler Graduate School
Walk into any home, office, or store and you’ll notice it immediately: the air is scented. Fresh linen laundry detergent. Vanilla candles. Citrus cleaning sprays. Perfumes promising confidence, romance, or success. Fragrance has become so woven into daily life that many people barely notice it — until their bodies do.
Across the globe, millions report headaches, breathing problems, dizziness, brain fog, or migraines triggered by fragranced products. Yet many of these same people say they love the way these products smell. This tension, attraction mixed with discomfort, is what researchers now call the fragrance paradox.
But the story isn’t just about chemistry or consumer habits. It’s also about belonging, identity, and our deep human need to feel connected. And that’s where Alfred Adler’s psychology offers a powerful lens.
The Hidden Health Toll of Everyday Scents
Recent studies show that more than one‑third of adults experience health effects from fragranced products. These reactions range from mild irritation to debilitating symptoms that interfere with work, relationships, and daily functioning. Scientists have linked fragranced products to asthma attacks, migraines, respiratory irritation, cognitive difficulties, skin reactions, and sensory overload, especially in autistic adults
Some of the most surprising findings come from research on indoor air quality. Many fragranced products release volatile organic compounds that react with indoor air to form new pollutants, including formaldehyde. Dryer vents, for example, can emit measurable chemicals even when “fragrance‑free” products are used. And because these exposures happen in shared spaces — offices, classrooms, apartment buildings, gyms — they affect not just the user but everyone around them.
Why We Still Love Fragrance: The Psychology of Scent
If fragrance can make people sick, why do we keep using it? Because scent is emotional. It’s social. It’s symbolic. Research shows that fragrance influences how we perceive others, and how we want to be perceived. A pleasant scent can make someone seem more attractive, more competent, even more trustworthy. Many people use fragrance to boost confidence or shape their identity.
Sociologists describe scent as a form of social communication. It signals who we are, where we belong, and how we want to show up in the world. This is where Adlerian psychology deepens the story.
Adler’s Insight: Fragrance as a Tool for Belonging
Alfred Adler believed that humans are driven by a fundamental need for connection, community, and belonging, what he called Gemeinschaftsgefühl, or social interest. We strive to feel significant and valued within our social world.
Fragrance taps directly into this striving: Wearing perfume can feel like a way to fit in. Scented laundry or cleaning products can signal that we’re good, clean, or put together. Luxury fragrances can become symbols of status or identity. Pleasant scents can soothe feelings of insecurity or inferiority.
In Adlerian terms, fragrance often becomes part of our lifestyle, the pattern of beliefs and behaviors we use to navigate life’s tasks. For some, fragrance is a tool for confidence. For others, it’s a way to feel socially acceptable. For many, it’s a way to feel connected.
But Adler also warned that striving for belonging should never come at the expense of others’ wellbeing. When our personal choices harm the community, social interest breaks down. And that’s exactly what’s happening with fragrance.
When Scent Becomes a Barrier
For people with asthma, migraines, sensory sensitivities, or chemical sensitivities, fragranced environments can be disabling. Workplaces, schools, and healthcare settings often become inaccessible simply because the air is scented. This creates a form of invisible exclusion.
Adler emphasized that a healthy society is one where everyone can participate fully. When fragranced products prevent people from working, learning, or receiving care, the issue becomes not just medical, but ethical. Fragrance sensitivity is not a personal preference. It’s a public health and accessibility issue.
The Rise of “Natural” Scents, and Their Own Risks
As concerns about synthetic fragrances grow, many people turn to essential oils and aromatherapy. Research shows that certain essential oils, like lavender, can support sleep and relaxation. Aromatherapy can be a meaningful part of holistic wellbeing. But “natural” does not mean harmless.
Essential oils contain potent bioactive compounds. They can trigger reactions, especially in sensitive individuals, and they contribute to indoor air chemistry just like synthetic fragrances. The real issue isn’t natural verses synthetic; it’s awareness, moderation, and respect for shared air.
Toward a Healthier, More Inclusive Fragrance Culture
A fragrance‑safe society doesn’t mean eliminating scent. It means using fragrance in ways that honor both personal expression and community wellbeing — a deeply Adlerian goal.
Here’s what that could look like:
1. Fragrance‑free workplaces and healthcare settings: These policies protect vulnerable individuals and promote equity.
2. Transparent ingredient labeling: People deserve to know what they’re breathing.
3. Public education about fragrance sensitivity: Awareness reduces stigma and increases empathy.
4. Respect for shared air: Fragrance is never just personal — it affects everyone nearby.
5. A shift toward social interest: Choosing products with the whole community in mind reflects Adler’s vision of a cooperative, caring society.
A New Way to Think About Scent
Fragrance can be comforting, nostalgic, sensual, or empowering. It can also be harmful, exclusionary, and environmentally damaging. The challenge, and opportunity, is to hold both truths at once.
Adler taught that the healthiest societies are those where individuals act with awareness of their impact on others. When we apply that wisdom to fragrance, we begin to see scent not just as a personal choice but as a communal one. The fragrance paradox invites us to rethink what it means to smell “good,” and what it means to live well together.
Social Interest in Everyday Life
By Harshdeep Kaur, NASAP Intern
Human nature is fundamentally shaped by social interest, which impacts our daily interactions, connections, and concern for others. Social interest influences not only how we live, but also how we impact other individuals and society at large – from our small acts of kindness to our larger contributions to creating strong communities.
The term, social interest, describes people’s innate propensity to care about other people, give back to society, and experience a sense of community. The idea was first presented by Adler in 1927, who emphasized the importance of social interest for mental health and personal development. Adler asserts that people have better and more satisfying lives when they are involved in their community and concerned about the well-being of others. Put another way, social interest assists people in discovering meaning and purpose that goes beyond mere personal wants.
Adler’s century-old concept of social interest (Gemeinschaftsgefühl in German) seems more pertinent than ever in a world where social disengagement, loneliness, and self-centeredness frequently make the news. Adler held that genuine mental health, beyond our personal well-being, is derived from our ability to connect with others, make a positive contribution to society, and have a meaningful feeling of belonging.
How can we apply this theory to real-world situations and, more significantly, how do we quantify something as nebulous as “interest in others?” Psychologist, James E. Crandall, addressed this question in his seminal work, “Adler’s concept of social interest: Theory, measurement, and implications for adjustment,” published in 1980. His work provides fresh tools for researching Adler’s original hypothesis.
Measuring Social Interest
Crandall created the Social Interest Scale (SII), a self-reporting tool, to measure social interest. Items on this scale assess a person’s empathy, helpfulness, and sense of social group belonging. Crucially, Crandall evaluated the scale on sizable populations and discovered that lower levels of anxiety, sadness, and self-centeredness were consistently linked to greater social interest scores. The scale’s correlation with people’s regular habits is what makes it so fascinating. People with higher social interest scores, for instance, are more likely to volunteer, show concern for friends and family, and report greater life happiness. Conversely, people with low scores frequently display more solitary, competitive, or avoidant tendencies. Crandall’s work supported Adler’s theory that psychological suffering could be exacerbated by a lack of social interest.
Implications of Crandall’s Study
According to Crandall’s research, social interest is something we can cultivate and witness in the real world. It is possible that fostering social interest can protect against contemporary stressors such as burnout and loneliness. Practicing social interest contributes to the creation of robust, meaningful lives, whether via deeds of kindness, community service, or just being more sensitive to the needs of others.
Additionally, Crandall’s research provides opportunities for educators, counselors, coaches, and even leaders in the workplace. Relationships and mental health may both be enhanced by programs that promote empathy, cooperation, and common objectives. Cultivating social interest also positively affects youth development by assisting young people to develop identities that are socially active and healthy.
Harshdeep Kaur is a student at Adler University and has interned for The Connection and NASAP headquarters. Before beginning her studies at Adler University, she worked as a psychology teacher and a tutorial supervisor in her native India.
The Letter That Finally Got Sent: A Family Story about Encouragement
By Wang Yang
When I was a child, I loved to sing. Not in any trained or technical way, just the kind of singing that comes from somewhere instinctive, the kind that feels like breathing. When I heard about a local singing competition open to the public, something lit up in me. I went to my parents, full of that feeling.
"Our family doesn't have anyone who knows about these things," they said. "Forget it."
They weren't cruel. They weren't dismissive out of meanness. Looking back, I think they were doing the only thing they knew how to do: love me in the language of risk avoidance. A parent who has never been encouraged doesn't know what encouragement looks like. Rather than encouraging, they protect; closing the door quietly, before disappointment can walk through it.
Something happened in me at that moment that I couldn't name for years. It wasn't anger. It wasn't even sadness. It was something quieter, a feeling that folded itself up and pressed flat, like a letter that never got sent. I didn't fight it. I accepted their logic. I let the wanting go. This is what discouragement does: it doesn't announce itself. It teaches you, slowly and without drama, that your wanting doesn't count for much.
And here is what I understand now that I couldn't then: I let it go not because I agreed, but because staying small felt safer than wanting something out loud. That was how I mistakenly learned to belong.
Years later, my daughter came home from school with news: the school choir was holding auditions.
She was fourteen. She wanted to try. But she hesitated.
"I've never had any formal training," she said. "I probably won't make it."
I watched her standing at the edge of something she wanted, and I felt it: that old image surfacing, like a photograph slowly developing. I recognized what I was seeing. She wasn't lacking ability. She was lacking permission. And I recognized the particular silence inside her hesitation, because I had lived inside that silence too.
I didn't hesitate.
"Try," I told her. "Just try."
She auditioned. She got in. The surprise and joy on her face was something I will not forget.
What I gave her wasn't a guarantee of success, or the removal of all risk. It was encouragement—the kind that doesn't promise an outcome, only affirms that the attempt is worth making.
But I have come to believe something else, too. In that moment, I wasn't only giving my daughter something. I was also, quietly, answering a question that had been waiting for decades and giving the child I once was the response she never received.
The letter finally got sent.
