Psychodynamic therapies

An umbrella term for all analytic therapies, psychodynamic therapy is also a method in itself. Analytic therapies follow the root aim of Sigmund Freud—to bring the unconscious mind into consciousness.

What are they?

The principle behind the psychodynamic approach is that the unconscious mind harbors feelings and memories, particularly from childhood, that shape thought patterns and behavior in adulthood. The therapist helps the client to talk about these often unwanted feelings and so draw them into the conscious mind. Burying unpleasant memories results in anxiety, depression, and phobias, and bringing them into the light of day gives the client the tools to resolve their psychological problems as an adult. Acknowledging buried memories
helps the client to identify, confront, and ultimately change the defense mechanisms they have developed to avoid experiencing painful realities or facing unpleasant facts and unwanted thoughts. These (usually unconscious) mental strategies include denial (refusal to accept reality), repression (burying an unwanted thought or feeling),compartmentalization (mentally separating conflicting emotions or beliefs), reaction formation (acting contrarily to how the person feels), and rationalization (self-justifying an unacceptable behavior). In all psychodynamic therapies,
the therapist listens to the client talking about their conscious problems while looking for patterns, behaviors, and emotions that hint at their subconscious feelings. The goal is to enable the client to deal positively with inner conflicts.

The session

All forms of psychodynamic therapy take place in a familiar, safe, respectful, nonjudgmental environment. Sessions are usually one-on-one and last 50–60 minutes.

DREAM ANALYSIS A means of accessing the unconscious, analyzing dreams can reveal hidden emotions, motivations, and associations.

RESISTANCE ANALYSIS Showing the client what, how, and why they are resisting in thoughts, ideas, or emotions can explain defense mechanisms.

FREUDIAN SLIP The client reveals what is really on their mind (their unconscious thought) by saying something they did not intend to.

THE CLIENT In traditional Freudian analysis, the client lies on a couch and cannot see the therapist. In more interactive forms, the client can see the therapist.

FREE ASSOCIATION The client talks spontaneously about whatever comes to mind, without editing what they say or attempting to give a linear structure. True thoughts and feelings emerge.

TRANSFERENCE The client’s unconscious conflicts surface in their relationship with the therapist. They redirect emotions and feelings, often from childhood, from themselves to the therapist.