What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?
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Talk therapy — including psychodynamic therapy — encompasses many different approaches therapists use to treat clients.
So, what is psychodynamic therapy, and how does it work? Psychodynamic therapy is a holistic approach that traces back to Sigmund Freud. Unlike cognitive-behavioral therapy, which emphasizes the connections between thoughts and behavior, psychodynamic therapy encourages clients to more deeply understand how their lived experiences affect their current functioning.
How Psychodynamic Therapy Works
Psychodynamic therapy encourages clients to develop awareness of their emotions and process unresolved feelings. Building on Freud’s approach to therapy, psychodynamic therapists investigate the unconscious mind to gain self-awareness and help clients access and interpret their thoughts.
Although less widespread than psychoanalysis, both approaches trace their roots back to Freud. However, traditional psychoanalysis places therapists in an authoritative, expert role, while psychodynamic therapists position themselves as a guide.
Where a traditional psychoanalyst might encourage patients to recline on a couch for sessions and encourage free association to explore unconscious themes, psychodynamic therapists are often seated to face their clients. Psychoanalysis also requires several sessions per week and can be a long-term therapy experience.
Clients may meet with a psychodynamic therapist to explore the causes of anxiety or depression. Families may also turn to psychodynamic techniques to examine unresolved conflicts and work through them. Clients who struggle to put their emotions into words may benefit from an art or music-focused psychodynamic approach. By expressing themselves through a different medium, clients can process their emotions.
Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques
Psychodynamic therapy techniques encourage clients to investigate their unconscious thoughts and reactions. Here are three common techniques:
- Free Association: Psychodynamic therapy uses free association to encourage clients to explore their thoughts and emotions. By allowing clients to direct the process, therapists encourage them to identify patterns and reflect on their feelings.
- Projective Tests: Psychodynamic therapists may use techniques such as word association or inkblot tests to identify subconscious thoughts and feelings. Interpreting a client’s reaction to Rorschach tests, for example, is a common technique in psychodynamic therapy.
- Dream Analysis: Clients unlock their unconscious thoughts through dream analysis, where a therapist guides them through dreams to understand hidden meanings and fears. While this is a subjective technique, it can help clients identify areas for growth.
Who Can Benefit From Psychodynamic Therapy?
Many clients can benefit from psychodynamic therapy, but it may not be the right fit for certain people or for those managing particular mental health conditions.
Because of its open-ended nature, psychodynamic therapy is often a good fit for self-reflective patients willing to speak freely about their thoughts. Therapists work closely with patients to uncover unconscious patterns and overcome repressed emotions. This process can improve a client’s relationships and strengthen their self-awareness.
Conditions and issues treated with psychodynamic therapy include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family dynamics
Along with techniques such as free association, psychodynamic therapy encourages clients to develop their introspective and analytical abilities to better understand themselves. Because psychodynamic therapy often involves digging into a client’s life history and the narratives they have built about their past and relationships, it may not be a good fit for people who struggle with self-reflection.
Who Can Administer Psychodynamic Therapy?
Licensed mental health providers, including licensed social workers, therapists, mental health counselors, clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists, can administer psychodynamic therapy.
These mental health professions require a graduate degree, supervised clinical experience, and a state-issued license. While therapists and counselors can practice with a master’s degree, psychologists typically need a doctorate.
During a graduate program, therapists train in different therapeutic approaches and gain client-focused experience. In addition to a graduate degree, therapists may complete a post-graduate certificate or training program to learn therapeutic techniques and specialize in psychodynamic therapy.
Because psychodynamic therapists guide clients as they explore complex feelings, strong interpersonal skills are critical for careers in this specialty.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychodynamic Therapy
Want to know more about psychodynamic therapy? Here are answers to common questions.
Psychotherapy refers to a broad category of talk therapies, which include psychodynamic therapy, psychoanalysis, humanistic therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Psychodynamic therapy takes a holistic approach, encouraging clients to explore their past and unconscious thoughts to gain self-awareness. Common techniques include free association and dream analysis.
