Allison's Psychodynamic Conceptualization

Question 1

What is the outline for the Psychodynamic Conceptualization?

Answer 1

• Presenting problem (why treatment now?)
• Contextual factors (background info)
• Level of personality organization
• Formulation

Question 2

What are the six things that make up the ‘level of personality organization’ for psychodynamic conceptualization? (DRSRII)

Answer 2

• Defenses/Affects (display of emotion)
• Relational Patterns (consistent or transitory)
• Identity/Self-esteem (overly confident? self depricating?)
• Reality Testing (delusions? hallucinations?)
• Impulse Control/ Affect Tolerance (too much? too little?)
• Insight/ Self observation (‘observing ego’)

Question 3

Under ‘formulation’ (fourth bullet point) for psychodynamic conceptualization, what is the sentence to start with?

Answer 3

“___ is experiencing deficts in the tripolar self. In health, self-objects lead to a choesive self, however ____’s self-object deficits are causing an incohesive self.”

Question 4

Under ‘formulation’ for psychodynamic conceptualization, what are the three ‘deficits’ to discuss?

Answer 4

• Deficits in Mirroring (deficits in the grandiose self)
• Deficits in Twinship (deficits in the alter-ego)
• Deficits in Idealization (deficits in the idealized parental imago)

Question 5

In the psychodynamic formulation, under ‘formulation,’ what is the sentence to start the ‘deficits in MIRRORING?’

Answer 5

• ___’s deficits in the grandiose self resulted from unmet mirroring needs in childhood.

Question 6

In the psychodynamic formulation, under ‘formulation,’ what is the sentence to start the ‘deficits in TWINSHIP?’

Answer 6

• ___’s unmet childhood twinship needs are causing him to experience a deficit in his alter ego.

Question 7

In the psychodynamic formulation, under ‘formulation,’ what is the sentence to start the ‘deficits in IDEALIZATION?’

Answer 7

• ___ is experiencing deficts in the idealized parental imago stemming from unmet idealizing needs during childhood.