Freud
Why am I like this?
Mindset by Structure Wellness
How do you talk to yourself?
Everyone has an inner voice. For a lot of us it's harsh, fast and very sure of itself. Tap each thought to hear what a fairer voice would say.
0 of 5 thoughts reframed. Watch the sky.
You can't always choose the first thought. You can choose the second one.
Two ways of asking
Why am I like this? Or what is this for?
Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler worked together in Vienna until Adler went his own way in 1911. Freud looked backwards for causes. Adler looked forwards at goals. For everyday mindset, we lean Adler.
Adler
What is this for, and what's next?
| Freud | Adler | |
|---|---|---|
| The question | Why? What caused this? | What for? Where is this heading? |
| Looks at | The past | The future |
| You are | Driven by unconscious forces | Able to choose your response |
| Problems live | Inside the mind | Between people |
| The helper is | An expert who interprets | An equal who encourages |
| Doing well means | Insight into hidden conflicts | Belonging and contributing |
Freud changed how the world thinks about the mind, and his ideas still shape therapy today. For the everyday work of how you talk to yourself, we find Adler's questions more useful. They're practical, hopeful, and they point you towards other people.
What we teach
Five ideas from Adler.
We are self-determined by the meaning we give to our experiences.
The reframe lab
Bring your own thought.
Five short questions, the way we'd work through it with you in a session. Your card updates as you go. There's an example filled in to show how it works.
Adler's life tasks
Work. Friendship. Love.
Adler said every life asks three things of us. When one is struggling, the inner voice gets louder. Slide each to where it is today.
Start with friendship
When the dark thoughts come
You don't have to win the argument. Just STOP.
- S
Spot it
Notice the thought and give it a name. "There's the critic again." Naming it puts a little space between you and it.
- T
Take a breath
In for four, out for six. A longer out-breath helps your body settle, so your thinking can too.
- O
Observe what it's for
Ask Adler's question: what is this thought trying to do for me? Protect me, warn me, keep me small?
- P
Pick one useful step
Not a solution to everything. One small thing that moves you towards people, or towards what matters.
One minuteBreathe with the light
This helps with everyday dark thoughts. If you're thinking about harming yourself, please talk to someone now.
Mindset at Structure
Practise it with people.
Adler believed we get well together, not alone. Mindset is one of Structure's four pillars, alongside sleep, movement and fuel, and we're building it out at Stevenson Square.
Group
Workshops
Practical sessions on self-talk, stress and the courage to be imperfect.
Small group
Circles
A regular small group where you practise new ways of thinking with people who get it.
One to one
Coaching
Time with a coach to work on what's getting in your way.
Workplaces
For teams
Mindset sessions for your organisation, and part of The Reset retreat.
Register your interest.
Tell us what you'd like to join and we'll be in touch with dates. Please don't share anything personal here. We'll talk properly when we meet.
If it's more than a bad day
Mindset isn't therapy.
Our sessions build everyday skills. They aren't a crisis or clinical service. If dark thoughts are taking over, or you're thinking about harming yourself, please reach out to one of these now. You don't have to be at breaking point to call.
Samaritans116 123
Free, any time, day or night.
ShoutText SHOUT to 85258
Free, 24/7 text support.
NHS 111111, option 2
Urgent mental health help in England.
If your life is at risk999
Or go to your nearest A&E.