Types of Psychotherapy: Psychodynamic Therapy

Curious about psychotherapy? You may not know that there are different types of therapy and that some of them are capable of not only addressing particular issues but providing long-term benefits that can be carried on long after the therapy sessions have ended. One such type of therapy that offers these benefits is psychodynamic therapy.

While psychodynamic therapy isn’t new, recent studies have shown that it can be used on a wide range of patients and has some very long-lasting effects that continue to improve once treatment has ended.

Psychotherapy: What is psychodynamic therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is unlike other types of therapy in that it does not focus on one individual condition or a specific trauma that a person has suffered. Instead, it looks deeper at the emotional roots of the problems a person is suffering. It also focuses primarily on self-reflection and self-examination to discover the problems that a person is facing.

This is different from a symptom-first approach to therapy, which works to identify and cope with symptoms of a problem rather than dealing with the problem itself and its causes. Psychodynamic therapy can be thought of as a combination of behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

By using the role of patient and psychiatrist as a way to understand the patient’s emotional state and the role that problematic relationships play in their life, it is often possible to identify the causes of emotional trauma, as well as behaviors that may lead to problems in relationships that create triggers for these mental issues. From there, the psychiatrist can work with the patient to identify these key relationships and behaviors, why they occur, and what to do about them.

How psychodynamic therapy works

Psychodynamic therapy works for the long-term because it helps a person understand where their issues come from and helps to change the behavior that causes them. Whether building better relationships or changing thought patterns so that a person feels less stressed, the goal is to develop life skills to deal with emotionally challenging situations rather than merely addressing the symptoms of anxiety or depression.

In this way, patients can work with the psychiatrist to address their existing issues, learn how to deal with them, and then transfer those same skills to their lives moving forward.

For example, once a person identifies the signs of an unhealthy relationship and works to get over one that they are currently in, they can then carry that knowledge forward and potentially avoid those types of relationships in the future.

The same can be said for negative thought patterns and behaviors that they originally developed, leading to anxiety and depression. Once a person knows how to cope with these thoughts and feelings, it is possible to live a healthier life moving forward.