Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is focused on helping people gain insight into their lives and current problems by identifying and evaluating patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Clients are encouraged to explore early-life experiences and to bring the unconscious mind into consciousness. According to psychodynamic theory, the unconscious holds onto painful feelings and memories, which are too difficult for the conscious mind to process. To ensure that these memories remain out of conscious awareness, people develop defense mechanisms.

Exploring early memories and experiences and becoming aware of recurring patterns can allow clients to develop a better understanding of the defense mechanisms they developed over the years to cope with difficult aspects of their past. Some common defense mechanisms include denial, projection, rationalization, and repression.

Psychodynamic interventions may vary by therapist, but often involve free association and using the therapeutic relationship to help clients better understand their interpersonal patterns and relationships with important figures from their past. In free association, clients are encouraged to talk freely about their feelings, desires, fantasies, and fears without censoring themselves. In so doing, it is believed that clients can uncover and process painful feelings and memories that have been outside of their awareness, allowing for a reduction in the use of defense mechanisms and greater psychological flexibility.

Psychodynamic therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of problems and disorders, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse/addiction, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and chronic pain. Additionally, psychodynamic therapy can be beneficial for people who feel they have lost meaning in their lives and/or are motivated to gain self-awareness and new ways of being in the world.