Psychodynamic psychotherapy-a paradigm description

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is one of the main areas of psychotherapy, which has its roots in the theory of psychoanalysis created by Sigmund Freud. It is based on several key assumptions about the human psyche and its functioning.

Ignorance

• Definition: Most of our thoughts, feelings, and motivations remain outside of consciousness. Freud believed that the unconscious contains desires, memories, and emotions that are not available in everyday consciousness, but affect our behavior.
• Importance: Unconscious processes have a huge impact on our daily lives, determining our choices, reactions, and attitudes. The goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to discover this unconscious content, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the self and reduce mental symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

Internal conflicts

• Definition: Internal conflicts between different parts of the psyche, such as the Id (instincts), ego (consciousness), and superego (conscience), can lead to emotional and mental problems. These conflicts arise from opposing desires and responsibilities.
• Importance: Psychodynamic therapy seeks to resolve these conflicts, allowing the patient to achieve inner balance and harmony. Dealing with internal conflicts helps improve mental and emotional functioning, allowing the patient to make more informed and healthy decisions.

Impact of early experience

• Definition: Early childhood experiences, especially those related to relationships with parents and caregivers, have a crucial impact on personality development. These experiences form basic relational and emotional patterns that can persist throughout life.
• Importance: Psychodynamic psychotherapy examines these early experiences to understand how they affect the patient's current problems. The analysis of children's relationships helps to identify unconscious behaviors, which allows the patient to make conscious changes in their life.

Defense mechanisms

• Definition: Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used by the ego to manage fears, stress, and internal conflicts. Examples of defense mechanisms include displacement, projection, rationalization, and sublimation.
• Importance: Identifying and analyzing protective mechanisms in therapy helps the patient understand how they cope with emotional difficulties. Recognizing these mechanisms allows the patient to deal with stress and emotions more constructively, leading to better mental health.

Transmission and countertransference

• Definition: Transference is the process by which the patient communicates feelings and expectations from important past relationships to the therapist. Countertransference is the therapist's response to the patient, which may reflect their own unconscious conflicts and feelings.
• Importance: The analysis of transmission and countertransference in psychodynamic psychotherapy can reveal important information about the patient's unconscious relationships and conflicts. Working with these processes allows the patient to understand and transform unhealthy relational models, leading to healthier and more authentic interpersonal relationships.

Examples of methods used in psychodynamic psychotherapy

• Free associationsQuestioner: The patient is encouraged to say whatever comes to mind, without censoring the thought. This helps you detect unconscious content.
• Dream AnalysisDream interpretation as a way to understand unconscious desires and fears.
• Interpretation of resistance: Study of a patient's resistance to discussing certain topics that may indicate unconscious conflicts.
• Transfer analysis: Study how the patient's feelings for the therapist reflect past relationships and conflicts.

The importance of psychodynamic psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy offers a deep understanding of the human psyche, enabling patients to detect and process the unconscious conflicts that affect their lives. While this is often a long-term process, the effects can lead to permanent changes in emotional and interpersonal functioning.

This form of therapy is particularly useful for people with complex mental health problems that are rooted in early life experiences and unconscious conflicts.

Where to use it: Adjutant-psychodynamic psychotherapy