Psychodynamic Therapies

What do you mean by psychodynamic therapies? It is a common question but takes a little more than a mere definition to understand the entire concept. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the conflict of the unconscious mind. This conflict causes various mental disorders like anxiety and depression. 

With this therapy, one can shape their current condition and past experiences. It involves exploring unresolved issues of the past that can help the individual make peace with the present. It can perfectly work on a person who doesn’t have a suicidal tendency, zero substance abuse problems, or any high instability in life.

Does psychodynamic therapy work? It does help to distinguish patterns in one’s emotions, beliefs, and thoughts so that the therapist can get an insight into their current situation. Mostly these kinds of patterns have been traced since the patient’s childhood. As per this therapy, experiences from early life are the ones that shape the psychological and functional development of the person. 

So, as per the definition, you can define these psychodynamic therapies as the globally accepted treatment facilities with a holistic approach. The focus here is to consider the client’s perspective and utilise similar strategies to reduce the symptoms of deep-rooted needs and desires in the patient. 

In psychodynamic therapy, the human mind is categorised into three parts. It’s an interesting concept that involves:

• Id refers to one’s desires and wishes that ultimately shape the fundamentals of the unconscious mind

• Ego refers to the mediator that creates the bridge between the inner mental health and the

  relationship with the outer environment

• Super-ego refers to one’s personal ideals and conscience 

Goals In Psychodynamic Therapy

The primary objectives of psychodynamic therapies are:

• To improve an individual’s self-awareness
• To facilitate the development of a clear understanding of individual feelings, thoughts, and beliefs related to one’s past experiences, especially from childhood.

According to psychodynamic therapies, the significant problems reside in the unconscious area, and with the help of catharsis, they can be understood and solved. So, with the help of self-awareness, the individual can discover those patterns of thoughts wandering around in the unconscious mind. Then, with proper therapy and guidance, one can distinguish these thoughts and ideas and work on them to become productive.

Various theories suggest the success of psychodynamic therapies and their utility in:

• Making the unconscious mind conscious
• Supporting the weakened ego 
• Reactivate both emotional and mental development

Types Of Psychodynamic Therapies

All the therapies mentioned below follow the psychodynamic theory model, but the application of these therapies depends on the individual and his mental illness.

• Brief Psychodynamic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Family Therapy
• Psychodynamic Art/Music Therapy

Psychodynamic Techniques And Tools Used

How does psychodynamic therapy work? Although psychodynamic treatment doesn’t rely on activities and exercises like the other psychological therapies, it still got some valuable tools in its kit. These tools are ideal for the therapist to go deeper into the clients’ unconscious minds and solve the problems.

There are five most common techniques and tools which are discussed below:

Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM)

It’s an alternative to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual or DSM. However, psychodynamic therapists refer to this manual to treat their clients.

Rorschach Inkblots

During this test, the therapist presents a few sets of inkblots, one at a time. The client is then asked to interpret what they see in these inkblots. One is free to use it as a piece of the image, a whole one, sometimes as a blank space surrounding the image to get an interpretation. 

The therapist takes notes while the client describes them. Then, a therapist can ask a few more questions during the test as the client interprets the image. 

Freudian Slip

The therapist least uses this concept. It is also considered to be a slip of the tongue. According to Freud, there are no accidents during a slip of the tongue. Instead, they reveal many things meaningful about the person. Freud also claims that there is no random or accidental behaviour. 

But every move and word, when spoken by an individual, seems to be determined by the conscious, unconscious, or subconscious mind. Sometimes, even the circumstances play a significant role in deciding the same. 

Free Association

It is one of the most used tools in this therapy. It is a very effective and simple tool that is one of the favourites of many therapists.

In this technique (formal one), the therapist will read out a few words, and the client can respond immediately as they first hear the word. It will put some light on the hidden associations or connections of the client. However, it can also evoke an intense memory from a traumatic event. In most cases, it is a very distressing one. 

But on the other hand, the non-formal concept allows the client to head the discussion. So it is a relaxation session, a non-structured process of dialogue in the therapy. 

Dream Analysis

In this therapy, the dreams of the client are broadly discussed. The therapist guides the client throughout the discussion, asking different questions while motivating him to remember the dream and describe every aspect elaborately.

Conclusion

Often the specialists refer to psychodynamic therapies as the best speaking therapy. This is because it has proven to be very effective in helping people dealing with mental illnesses like depression, pain, anxiety, and various relationship issues. 

Sometimes, it also helps the individual see and identify their significant problems. It also allows a better understanding of their thoughts, unconscious feelings, and past experiences. Developing these skills can help a person make choices better than their previous ones, thereby helping them create a better life.