What is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy aims to enhance our self-awareness and help us understand how our past influences our present behaviours. A therapist employing a psychodynamic perspective will enable their client to examine and solve unsettled conflicts and psychological distress that arise from previous dysfunctional relationships such as past family issues, bad relationships, and toxic friendships.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is rooted in traditional psychoanalysis but is less rigorous than the traditional psychoanalysis methods which comprised of attending 3-4 sessions weekly. However, Psychodynamic psychotherapists will help you understand and change complex, deep-seated problems thereby reducing symptoms and alleviating distress in your life. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective for a range of issues, both as an independent treatment and in combination with other forms of therapies. The relationship with your therapist is a crucial element in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy emphasizes the use of transference to inform therapy. Transference refers to a situation where the feelings, desires, and expectations of one person are redirected to another individual. In the therapeutic setting, transference allows your therapist to better understand how projected feelings and past are impacting you in the present.
What Issues does Psychodynamic Psychotherapy treat?
Psychodynamic therapy can help with a wide range of issues including but not limited to:
- Anger Management
- Anxiety
- Bereavement/Grief/Loss
- Depression
- Family Issues
- History of Abuse or Trauma
- Personality Disorders
- Relationship Issues
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Sex Issues
The Psychodynamic Therapy Relationship
The Psychodynamic Psychotherapy relationship emphasizes on ‘transference’ which refers to the process where the client responds to the therapist with feelings and expectations associated with a significant other person from the client’s life. An understanding of transference enables the therapist to better understand the client by gaining knowledge of their projected emotions and, through this new understanding, assist the client in achieving positive results and recovery.
Research has demonstrated that one of the most important predictors of obtaining success in therapy and counselling is the relationship between you and your therapist. At Mind + Zest, we take this research to heart. Our counselors will collaborate with you to develop a therapeutic plan that is tailored to your strengths, goals, and desired areas of change. Typically, most clients will have a sense of when their counselling goals have been reached. This sense of success typically emerges when you have overcome significant issues in your life and notice new feelings and changes in your behaviours. You may notice an increase in energy, mood, enthusiasm, motivation, general well-being, and interest, and you will gain the confidence to tackle new challenges on your own.
Successful counselling also depends on sustaining contact and momentum with your counselor. By regularly attending sessions, progression and healing is attained more quickly than when sessions are spread far apart or occur irregularly. Most of our clients find weekly sessions the most productive, while some individuals find bi-weekly or twice-a-week sessions as most effective.
If you or someone you know is struggling, don't hesitate to reach out. The Mind + Zest team here to help. Click below and get connected to a therapist as quickly as today!
