Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Flashcards
What aspects of the problem with Sinead O’Connor would a therapist explore in therapy?
how some of the things happening in the present with her relationships might be mirroring her past relationships
Since psychodynamic therapy was the first historically, other therapies were…
reactions against it
Psychoanalytic and Neo-freudian therapy are among other
overlapping terms that mean psychodynamic therapy
What is the primary goal of psychodynamic therapy?
To make the unconscious the conscious, and give insight into thoughts, feelings, and other mental activities outside of awareness
What was the fundamental idea of Sigmund Freud?
the very presence of the unconscious
What is free association?
a client saying what ever comes to mind without any self-censorship or editing, which is not easy. this allows the unconscious to be expressed
What are freudian slips?
verbal or behavioural mistakes that reveal unconscious wishes. ex: throw a ring at bf when he proposed
What are dreams?
manifested content represents hidden content, which contains unconscious wishes
What is resistance?
when client resists certain topics in therapy because they touch on certain unconscious feelings or thoughts
How might one notice resistance?
missed appointments, tardiness, change subject
What is a defence mechanism?
unconscious techniques created by the emo as an attempt to handle conflict between the id and superego
T or F? Repression, Projection, Reaction Formation, Displacement, and Sublimation are all defence mechanisms?
TRUE!!!!!!
What is repression and give an example
Repression – keep impulse in unconscious
• Ex: A strong wanting to do something but you feel it’s unacceptable so you push it down. Can only do it for so long because it’s hard to do.
What is projection and give an example
Projection – attribute to others
• Ex: a friend that keeps accusing you of a certain thing like jealousy; then turn it back on them. They are most likely feeling that.
What is reaction formation and give an example
Reaction formation – do opposite of impulse
• Ex: dislike someone in your family. Since you don’t want to cause a wave you are overly kind and polite to the person.
What is displacement and give an example
Displacement – redirect impulse
- ‘kick the dog’
- Ex: angry with boss but you take anger out on someone else
What is sublimation and give an example
Sublimation – redirect impulse in a way that benefits others
- Ex: if you have a lot of anger you might take up hockey or wrestling
- Taking something unacceptable and turning it in to something that is socially acceptable
What is transference?
Client forms a relationship with therapist in which client unconsciously and unrealistically expects therapist to behave like important people from the client’s past
Clients would prejudge and project someone onto you.
By becoming neutral and a blank canvas, clients are able to recognize how…
their own transference tendencies and the ways in which their unrealistic perceptions of others affect their relationship and their lives.
Why does the blank screen role of the therapist facilitate transference?
transference because if a therapist reveals as little about themselves as possible you can conclude that feelings the client has towards her are purely transference
What is countertransference ?
transference but from the therapist to the client
What is the key issue with Oral stage (0-1.5years)? What is the difference between overindulgence and under indulgence?
dependency/trust/insecure attachment
♣ Underindulgence -> distrustful and pessimistic of other
♣ Overindulgence -> naïve and overly trusting
What is the key issue with anal stage (1.5-3years)? What is the difference between overly-demanding parents and overly-lenient parents?
the key issue is control:
♣ Overly-demanding parents -> “control freaks,” obsessiveness
♣ Overly-lenient parents -> lax about organization, “slobs,” disorganization
What is the key issue with phallic stage (3-6years)? What is the difference between overly positive parents and overly negative parents?
self worth/view of self since children seek to have close relationships with their parents
♣ If parents respond too negatively, child’s sense of self is damaged -> insecure, self-doubting
♣ Kind of like playing out pretend roles as a kid – pretend romantic relationship
What is ego psychotherapy?
Emphasizes social relationships over psychosexual stages: emphasized the adaptive tendencies of the ego over the pleasure-based drive of the id
What does object relations therapy emphasize?
deemphasized internal conflict (id vs. superego) and instead emphasized relationships between internalized “objects” (important people in their life)
What does self psychology therapy emphasize?
Emphasizes parental roles in the development of the self, with special attention to narcissism
More recent forms of psychotherapy emphasize
efficiency
What are some features of brief psychodynamic psychotherapies? (5)
Narrow problems, quick alliance, focus on present as well as past, therapists are more active, pathology is less severe
What is IPT (Interpersonal Therapy)?
Designed to treat depression in 14-18 sessions
Improving interpersonal relationships will alleviate depression
Emphasis on role expectations
♣ Ex: Garon felt like client didn’t like her out of fear of Garon not liking her
What is Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy?
Variation of IPT for clients with bipolar disorder
Control and stabilize daily rhythms, sleep cycles, social interactions
Because predictability is very soothing
What is Time-Limited Psychotherapy?
Focus on transference and a therapy relationship that doesn’t follow the same unhealthy, unconscious “script” as previous relationships
Make client aware of script to enable a corrective emotional experience
It is very difficult to…
empirically measure the outcomes of psychotherapy
What are some reasons it is so difficult?
o Improvement can’t be objectively measured
o Difficult to manualize (have consistent strategy – hard to do because it’s an approach rather than a set of rules), which inhibits empirical study
Allegiance effects may influence outcome studies, particularly for psychodynamic therapy… why? (2)
o Few empirical outcome researchers are psychodynamic
o Researchers own orientations may bias the results of their studies (like if they are CBT or behavioral therapists – they may really disregard psychodynamic)
What are 2 supported components of psychodynamic therapy ?
o Interpretation of transference reactions
o Interpretation of countertransference reactions
Regardless,
large-scale reviews support its benefits with some disorders, but remains unproven with others
