A Journey to Professional Identity: How Individual Psychology Encapsulates My Collectivist Boricua Culture

Abstract: Adlerian theory, focusing on social interest and community connectedness, resonates deeply with my collectivistic cultural mindset as a Puerto Rican native and a Boricua woman. The Adlerian theoretical approach, rooted in the principles of social interest, emphasizes the individual’s sense of belonging in community. My Puerto Rican culture, with its strong emphasis on familial bonds and community involvement, embodies these principles in the classroom and clinical space and outside these spaces in my personal life. The personal connection to my culture and the significance of Adlerian psychology in this context is evident in my educational and clinical work and the concept of social interest and community connectedness. I am an Adlerian who encourages the importance of fostering a sense of belonging to clients, students, and colleagues. The concepts of holism and belonging represent the present and future of my clinical, pedagogical, and cultural identity. Understanding the importance of community in shaping one’s identity is crucial for my career as a female psychologist, as using those principles helps me encourage my clients to find adaptive ways to handle life challenges.