Psychodynamic Therapy

Question 1

Roots

Answer 1

Freudian psychoanalytic theory, but have evolved to include numerous forms of therapy

Question 2

5 key concepts

Answer 2

1. developmental history is important in fully understanding the client 2. in development, key people we’ve related with are important (object relations) 3. we are unaware of the impact of biology, past object relations, and culture on our behavior 4. act in our daily lives based on developmental history and unconscious biological drives 5. task of therapy is to help client discover how past influences the present

Question 3

Focus

Answer 3

analyzing the root causes of behavior and feelings by exploring the unconscious mind and the conscious mind’s relation to it

Question 4

Techniques

Answer 4

Free association, dream analysis (surface meaning = manifest content, hidden meaning = latent content), catharsis (purge emotions/feelings by talking about difficulties); interpretation (make clients aware of their unconscious processes). Lengthy duration.

Question 5

Effective for

Answer 5

couple therapy, aggressive children, adolescents, survivors of child abuse, depression, chemical dependency

Question 6

transference

Answer 6

client displaces emotions felt towards parent or earlier significant other onto the therapist

Question 7

countertransference

Answer 7

feelings/reactions or attachment to client may interfere with objectivity, can hinder process

Question 8

resistance

Answer 8

reluctant to bring unconscious ideas into the conscious mind - fighting the helping/therapeutic process

Question 9

ego defense mechanisms

Answer 9

unconscious strategies which distort reality and are based on self-deception to protect our self-image (keep from anxiety and from being overwhelmed)