Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is an in-depth form of talk therapy based on the theories and principles of psychoanalysis. In effect, talking about problems in a therapeutic setting can be extremely valuable for the individual. Comparatively, psychodynamic therapy is less focused on the client-therapist relationship and more focused on the patient’s relationship with their external world.

Psychodynamic therapy is primarily used to treat depression and other serious psychological disorders, especially in those who have lost meaning in their lives and have difficulty forming or maintaining personal relationships.

With help from the therapist, the patient is encouraged to speak freely about anything that comes to mind, including current difficulties, fears, desires, dreams, and fantasies. The goal is to experience a remission of symptoms but also derive such benefits as increased self-worth, better use of a client’s own talents and abilities, and an improved capacity for developing and maintaining more satisfying relationships.

The theories and techniques that distinguish psychodynamic therapy from other types of therapy include a focus on recognizing, acknowledging, understanding, expressing, and overcoming negative and contradictory feelings and repressed emotions to improve the client’s interpersonal experiences and relationships. The focus of psychodynamic therapy is to uncover the unconscious reasons for conscious behaviours. It is the study of unconscious psychological drives and impulses that may be the result of early experience. Psychodynamic is a study of how conscious and unconscious motivations are related. This includes helping the client understand how repressed emotions from the past affect current decision-making, behaviour, and relationships. Psychodynamic therapy also aims to help those who are aware of and understand the origins of their social difficulties but are not able to overcome problems on their own. Clients learn to analyse and resolve their current difficulties and change their behaviour in current relationships through deep exploration and analysis of earlier experiences and emotions.