Psychodynamics

Question 1

Psychodynamic Therapies

Answer 1

Therapies that share certain basic assumptions with PA but significantly change others.

2nd most popular approach after cognitive.

Some studies show that it can be as effective as more empirically proven forms of PT - especially the shorter more focused approaches like those for depression.

Question 2

Psychoanalytically Oriented PT

Answer 2

Theory/Procedure only a little different from traditionally PA.

ex) Franz Alexander - wanted to apply PA to ‘nontraditional clients’ like the young or severely disturbed. Questioned that treatment needed to be as intense and extended, and fundamentally similar in all cases.
- Not every patient seen several times a week because could foster too much dependence on the analyst (or becomes too routine)
- Some candidates need less extensive treatment meant to support not uncover/reconstruct personality (like mild symptoms or especially severe..)

Question 3

Early Alternatives to PA: Adler

Answer 3

First to break off.. de-emphaized…
1-theory of instincts
2-infantile sexuality
3-the role of unconscious in determining behavior.
—>Adler treatment focused on exploring and altering misconceptions (‘maladaptive lifestyles’).
-Alderians interpret to promote insight to current lifestyle
(freudians = insight to past causes of current problems)
-Alderians focus more on social aspects of the problem and less on internal ‘intrapsychic’ aspects (like freudians)

Question 4

Early Alternatives to PA: Jung

Answer 4

Analytical Psychology - differences from PA =

• stressed importance of ego
• Unconscious as a source of creativity and growth (in addition to conflict and anxiety)
• -> Jungians focus on how clients create meaning and construct personal narratives (life stories) than on discovering unconscious meaning of symptoms.
• *Phenomenological Approach**

Question 5

Ego Psychology

Answer 5

Ego-Analysts - challenged some of Freud’s Basic Principles (his daughter, Erik Erikson, Rapaport)

• -> believed Freud’s preocc with the id as the basis for behavior and disorder was too narrow – and that behavior is actually deterred largely by the ego.
• -> the Ego combats id impulses but also promotes learning and creativity
• • developed ego-analytic techniques - that focus more on working through current problems and less on childhood experience.
• -> Ego Analyst assesses and bolster’s client’s ego strength…

(transference not as huge of a deal…)

Question 6

Object Relations and Self-Psychology

Answer 6

Expanded role of relationships (esp. early ones) in psychodynamic thought..

• • focus on early infant-caregiver interactions because they act as prototypes for later relationships
• -therapeutic relationship as a ‘second chance’ for the client to obtain a close relationship with gratification that could have been absent during infancy… (as opposed to transference analysis).

Question 7

Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy ***

Answer 7

aka ‘Two Person Theories’
b/c focus on how client and therapist co-create meaning in therapy…

Blends several theories
‘Relational’ – because stresses relationships with caretakers (like obj relations too b/c see them as prototypes)
–> relationships have an objective dimension (events that actually happen) and a subjective one (the way the relationship is perceived by people involved)

• -> Strong interpersonal approach (vs. freud: intrapsychic)
• use obs. of current and past relationships to clarify how day to day behaviors can be maladaptive and interfere.
• no objective authority can judge whether one view of reality is ‘correct’ (jointly constructed views are still highly meaningful though)
• -> principle of analyst neutrality abandoned

Question 8

Short Term Psychodynamic

Answer 8

20 Sessions or less – emphasize realistic goals that can be accomplished in a few sessions.
(just a current crisis - not working through past)
- therapist might be more active because of limited time
- stress forming a working alliance asap and then help clients adopt coping strategies within specific domains.

Question 9

Psychodynamic Therapies: Common Features vs Key Variations

Answer 9

• PA oriented PT = closest to PA
• Relational = farthest from PA
• -> Supportive-Expressive Dimension: differentiated by degree of emotional support offered by therapist –continuum = analysis on one end (analytical interpretive support for exploration of emotionally difficult material to develop insight); on the other end supportive and educational interventions of interpersonal and relational approaches.
  
  • -> those on the far right (interpersonal / relational) seek to create empathic and supportive atm. that creates a “corrective emotional experience” (healing independent of insight)