Psychodynamic psychotherapy
The psychodynamic model is based upon the theoretical understandings of Freud’s psychoanalysis and works on a weekly basis.
With this model the basis of all problems start in early childhood, and unresolved unconscious issues play out until the client decides to gain some insight into it.
There are a number of tenets that underpin this model. The therapist is an ‘expert’ and is ‘a blank screen’ in the counselling room, and will interpret and diagnose what is going on for the client as the latter will not be aware of why they think or behave as they do.
Psychodynamic ideas are that:
- Relationships are problematic because a pattern is recreated from one in the past. For example, when meeting someone new, especially an authority figure, the client behaves as if that person represents someone else. This is known as transference.
- The client may try to control difficult or unacceptable feelings and a resistance or defence is caused and then blames others for their own difficulties.
- Free association is a techniques used to get clients to talk without getting caught up in their resistances or defences.
- Dream analysis is to help clients make sense of the material that is coming up from the unconscious mind.
- Interpretation is used by the therapist to help the client to find the root cause of their problems.
This model suits adults who like intellectual understandings and can talk about what they think, but who find it difficult to talk about their feelings.