PERSONAL APPLICATION: THE LIFESTYLE ASSESSMENT

The lifestyle assessment is typically done at the initial phase of therapy as a way to obtain
information about the client’s family constellation, early recollections, dreams, and strengths as a person.
This information is then summarized and interpreted, especially in light of the client’s faulty assumptions
about life (or “basic mistakes”). From the results of this assessment procedure, counselors make tentative
interpretations about the client’s lifestyle.

Although there are a number of formats for the lifestyle questionnaire, counselors may develop
their own variation by focusing on information deemed most valuable for exploration in therapy. What
follows is an example of a lifestyle questionnaire that has been modified and adapted from various
sources, but especially from Mosak and Shulman’s Lifestyle Inventory (1988). To give you an
experiential sense of the process of thinking and responding to this early life-history material, complete
the following questionnaire as it applies to you. As much as possible, try to give your initial responses,
without worrying about what you can and cannot remember about any “correct” responses. I strongly
encourage you to fill in the blanks and to make brief summaries after each section. Assume that you are
interested in being a client in Adlerian therapy. Based on the outcomes of this questionnaire, what areas
of your life would you most like to explore? How much help is this questionnaire in getting you focused
on what you might want from a therapeutic relationship?

Family Constellation: Birth Order and Sibling Description

1. List the siblings from oldest to youngest. Give a brief description of each (including yourself).
What most stands out for each sibling?
1st (29M) – Oldest brother, Profession: engineer
2nd (27M) – Older twin brother, Profession: engineer, college instructor
3rd (27M) – Me, younger twin brother, student
4th (13F) - Youngest, Only girl, Grade 8 JHS
2. Do a rating of each of the siblings, from highest to lowest, on each of the following personality
dimensions. Include your own position in relationship to your siblings.
Most to Least
intelligent 3,2,1,4 Most to Least
achievement-oriented 1,3,2,4 feminine 4,3,2,1
hardworking 1,2,3,4 masculine 1,2,3,4
pleasing 4,1,2,3 easygoing 4,3,2,1
assertive 2,3,4,1 daring 4,3,2,1
charming 4,3,2,1 responsible 1,2,3,4
conforming 1,4,2,3 idealistic 1,2,3,4
methodical 1,3,2,4 materialistic 4,1,3,2
athletic 3,2,4,1 fun-loving 4,2,3,1
rebellious 3,2,1,4 demanding 4,3,2,1
spoiled 4,1,3,2 critical of self 3,2,1,4
critical of others 3,2,4,1 withdrawn 1,4,3,2
bossy 4,3,2,1 sensitive 4,3,2,1
3. Which sibling is the most different from you, and how?

The eldest probably is the most different from me as he’s much closer to my elder twin
brother. They get along better and can talk about things more comfortably.

4. Which is most like you, and how?

It is definitely my twin brother; we do have a lot in common and we essentially grew

together in the same environment and so we are exposed to almost the same influences and
experiences.

5. Which played together?

The three elder brothers played together as they grew up, since they are closer in age group
and are the same gender.
 6. Which fought each other?

The twin brothers fought a lot in their childhood. Currently, the elder twin brother (2) and
the youngest (4) don’t get along well.

7. Who took care of whom?

Due to age gap, everyone took turns taking care of the youngest.

8. Were there any unusual achievements by the siblings?

All the elder brothers are academically inclined and had multiple awards in competitions in
schools during their childhood.

9. Any accidents or sickness?

Eldest (1) had a kidney failure on his mid 20’s that left him needing to have a daily
medication for maintenance.

10. What kind of child were you?

Spoiled during childhood.

11. What was school like for you?

It was pretty good as I was considered the smartest during those time and well liked by my
peers and teachers.

12. What childhood fears did you have?

I had irrational fears of heights and dogs.

13. What were your childhood ambitions?

Being a lawyer.

14. What was your role in your peer group?

Usually the leader.

15. Were there any significant events in your physical and sexual development?

None particularly unusual.

16. Any highlights in your social development?

None particularly unusual.

17. What were the most important values in your family?

Achievements and conforming to religious belief.

18. What stands out the most for you about your family life?

Growing up, the need to be better and following orders from elderlies.

Family Constellation: Parental Figure and Relationships

1. Your father’s current age: 58 Mother’s age. 53
2. His occupation. Jeepney Driver, (prev. seaman)Her occupation. Municipal Employee
3. What kind of person is he? Conservative, What kind of person is she? Very thrift
Traditional, strict but fair. Compassionate, understanding
 4. His ambitions for the children. Generally, be
and
wealthy at the right age
5. Your childhood view of your father. Strict
thrift
But very fond of his children but reliable
6. His favourite child, and why? Probably
The oldest brother or the youngest, as they
Are very close to him.
7. Relationship to children. Distant and strict
8. Sibling most like father. In what ways?
Oldest brother, in terms of values and
attitudes
Her ambition for the children. Be successful
completed education.
Your childhood view of your mother. Very
but approachable
Her favourite child, and why? Definitely the
youngest, just because of gender.
Relationship to children. Intimate to varying
degrees
Sibling most like mother. In what ways?
Youngest sister, both in looks and attitudes

9. Describe your parents’ relationship with each other. Typical for their age group, the mother
organizes everything at home (plans financials, purchases for homes etc.) while my dad
earns most of the money. Recently though, my dad always makes way to help with the house
chores.
10. In general, how did each of the siblings view and react to your parents? The three eldest brother
was distant to their father due the nature of his works and relied on the mother for
caretaking. But recently, both parents are hands-on their youngest daughter as they can
both have turn taking care of her.
11. In general, what was your parents’ relationship to the children? Typical for their age, growing
up, they were strict, the children felt they cannot share most intimate details about their life
with their parents.
12. Besides your mother and father, were there any other significant adults in your life? Who were
they? How did they affect you? None for me, but my eldest brother spent some time with our
aunt and uncle living a few barangays away when he was attending high school.

Early Recollections and Dreams

1. What is your earliest single and specific memory? Cutting my fingers with a knife trying to cut
a papaya and blood all over my hands.
2. What are some other early recollections? Be as detailed as possible. Punching my twin brother
at his back and him puking some blood (around preschool). Being punished with my
classmates in the second grade for playing outside the classroom. Having a very high fever
in 3rd grade whilst participating in a contest and still winning it.
3. What feelings are associated with any of these early memories? Mostly fear remorse guilt.
4. Can you recall any childhood dreams? Only one in particular. See below.
5. Do you have any recurring dreams? I have a recurring nightmare involving some kinds of
monster hunting me down with my extended family, (the dream always occurs in my
maternal grandmother’s house). Weirdly enough, the dreams always end in me around a
rolled-up mattress with my cousins. I don’t have those nightmares anymore though.

Lifestyle Summary
1. Give a summary of your family constellation. (What stands out most about your role in your
family? Are there any themes in your family history?)

I consider my family as very typical with my mother taking care of her children while the
father earning the money to support them. The father was absent in most time during the
three elder brothers’ childhood due to nature of the father’s work. This dynamic however
was change when our youngest sister was born and both parents were hands-on during her
childhood.

2. Summarize your early recollections. (Are there any themes running through your early
memories? Do you see any meaning in your early recollections?)

Honestly, my early childhood was centered around achievements and friendly competition
with my brothers both in school and home.

3. List your mistaken self-defeating perceptions. (What do you see as your “basic mistakes”?)
 Realizing now, that my worth was not tied to things I did in school.
The thought that everything must be done perfectly.

4. Summarize what you consider to be your strengths as a person. (What are your assets?) My
strengths and assets as a person stem directly from my upbringing and my competitive
nature with my siblings (at least my brothers). I have this need to be better than them.
These characteristics however mellowed out as years goes by but it sure still affects
personality today.

Now that you are finished with this lifestyle questionnaire:

▪ What did you learn from taking it and reviewing it?
▪ Assuming you will be a client in counseling, what theme(s) do you most want to address?
▪ Do you see connections between your past and the person you are today? What about any
continuity from your past and present to your strivings towards the future?
▪ Do you see any patterns in your life? Are there any themes running through from childhood to
present?
▪ Consider bringing the results of your lifestyle summary to class. Form small groups and exchange
with others what you learned from taking this self-assessment questionnaire.

A lot of self-reflection was done accomplishing the lifestyle questionnaire. It does raise some
explanations on some of my attitudes and personality today. I learn that a lot of my personality
traits came from my strict (and detached) upbringing by my parents and the competition
fostered by the three elder brothers growing up. If I ever find myself sitting with a
counselor/therapist, maybe these are some themes I’d consider bringing up so we can address
them.
Answering the lifestyle questionnaire also made me aware that most if not all the roles I
played in our childhood family dynamics certainly made me who I am today, and although
some of those traits that arises from my childhood upbringing may have negative impact on me
today, I learned to tone it down as to not bother me as much anymore.

REF. Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Gerald Corey