Psychodynamic therapy is a form of in-depth talk therapy. Although based on the theories and principles of psychoanalysis, psychodynamic therapy is often shorter than psychoanalysis and less intensive. Psychodynamic therapy is also less focused on the patient-therapist relationship than psychoanalysis since it focuses on the client’s other relationships as well.
However, the client-therapist relationship still remains one of the central elements of the therapeutic process as it helps understand the behavior patterns in the client’s other relationships.
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the unconscious, defense mechanisms, and psyche (Id, Ego, and Superego). It gives attention to on the client's psychosocial and psychosexual development and sees the causes of our behavior in the unconscious, whose different parts (Id, Ego, and Superego) are in constant conflict. Also, according to the psychodynamic approach, our behavior and feelings as adults have roots in childhood experiences.
Psychodynamic therapy is mainly used to treat depression (see French-language Blog Entry) and other depression-related disorders. The psychodynamic approach has proven to be effective in treating these conditions with benefits that last long after the treatment is over. In addition to depression, psychodynamic therapy treats the following mental health conditions:
Symptoms translate into reasons to seek psychotherapy, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or other mental health issues. The goal of psychodynamic treatment is to achieve self-awareness that will help you understand unidentified emotions and past experiences. This should empower you to deal with existing issues more successfully.
Talking therapy allows for deeper self-awareness, enabling you to understand the roots of your problems. The main benefit of psychodynamic therapy stems from the person’s ability to recognize behaviors and their causes. The psychodynamic approach aims to provide the client with a practical understanding of themselves. This allows the person to recognize the symptoms for what they are – the symptoms, which can help build healthy coping mechanisms. Psychodynamic therapy also aims to help the client gain a deeper knowledge of self, which boosts self-acceptance and confidence.
The benefits of psychodynamic therapy are long-lasting because you gain an understanding of your symptoms and behavior and build coping skills to manage your symptoms.
Psychodynamic therapy is one of the most effective approaches used to treat depression. If you need help to cope with depression, psychodynamic therapy can help you identify the roots of your painful emotions and find relief.
Your therapist will promote self-reflection and help you identify negative thought patterns. Once you understand the causes of your emotional suffering, you will become able to develop a better understanding of present challenges and find better ways to manage them. This will boost your resilience and help you build strong, meaningful relationships.
Important elements of the psychodynamic approach are introspection and self-reflection. During psychodynamic therapy sessions, clients are encouraged to examine their emotions which helps bring unconscious elements into present experience. This improves the client's awareness of how unresolved conflicts from the past affect their emotional health and behavior.
Psychodynamic therapists are interested in the past because this information is key to existing emotional issues and behavior patterns. Traumatic events from the past are the reason for unhealthy behavior patterns (responses that we repeat over and over). The therapist will investigate your past to identify events that caused present thoughts and behaviors. Once the roots of your problems are identified, you will work with the therapist on understanding the relationship between the past event and the present behavior. This should help you to get rid of hurting thoughts and behaviors.
Once you completely evaluate and understand the traumatic past events, you’ll become able to alleviate the symptoms and the unhealthy behavior patterns will begin to lessen.
The main goal of psychodynamic therapy is to discover painful memories and events that have been suppressed in the subconscious and bring them into the conscious mind so the client can understand the past and develop self-awareness.
Once you understand your past, you will start realizing how the past has influenced the present. In other words, psychodynamic therapy can help you understand the reasons you behave the way you do.
By the end of psychodynamic therapy, clients feel equipped with better coping strategies and improved ability for developing and keeping up positive relationships.
In psychodynamic therapy, the accent is on the relationship between the client and the therapist. This relationship is founded on openness, acceptance, and trust. Psychodynamic therapy uses the relationship between the client and the therapist to understand how disturbing experiences buried in the subconscious affect one’s behavior.
Also, the client-psychotherapist relationship serves as an insight into the client’s behavior patterns in other relationships. The therapist observes how the client interacts with them and use that to understand the client’s relationship patterns.
In the atmosphere of absolute acceptance, the client is encouraged to speak freely about what comes to their mind including their problems, needs, desires, fears, fantasies, and dreams. During this process, the therapist minimally interrupts while guiding the client in discovering patterns of behavior that are rooted in past experiences and how these experiences are currently affecting them.
Finally, the client and the therapist work together on developing better coping strategies.
The goal of psychodynamic therapy is a remission of the symptoms. However, psychodynamic therapy also aims to increase the client’s self-esteem, empower the client to use their coping skills, and develop and maintain more rewarding relationships.
Short-term therapy that lasts one year or less may be enough for some clients. However, long-term therapy of at least two years may be required for other clients’ symptoms to improve and for a person to gain lasting benefits from psychodynamic therapy.
If you feel that you need support in overcoming your problems, do not hesitate to contact us.
Our psychodynamic therapists are licensed and skilled professionals with the appropriate educational background, recognized training, end relevant experience.
We invite you to contact us so we can make an appointment and start your personal makeover.