Psychodynamic psychotherapy
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Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a form of depth psychology, the primary focus of which is to reveal the unconscious content of a client's psyche in an effort to alleviate psychic tension. [1] In this way, it is similar to psychoanalysis, however, psychodynamic therapy tends to be more brief and less intensive than psychoanalysis, and also relies more on the interpersonal relationship between client and therapist than do other forms of depth psychology. In terms of approach, this form of therapy also tends to be more eclectic than others, taking techniques from a variety of sources, rather than relying on a single system of intervention. It is a focus that has been used in individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, family therapy, and to understand and work with institutional and organizational contexts.[citation needed]
[edit] History
The principles of psychodynamics were first introduced in the 1874 publication Lectures on Physiology by German scientist Ernst Wilhelm von Brücke. Brücke, taking a cue from thermodynamics, suggested that all living organisms are energy systems, governed by the principle of energy conservation. During the same year, Brücke was supervisor to first-year medical student Sigmund Freud at the University of Vienna. Freud later adopted this new construct of “dynamic” physiology to aid in his own conceptualization of the human psyche. Later, both the concept and application of psychodynamics was further developed by the likes of Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Melanie Klein.
[edit] Approaches
Most psychodynamic approaches centered around the idea[vague] that some maladaptive functioning is in play, and that this maladaption is, at least in part, unconscious. The presumed maladaption develops early in life, and it is posited[weasel words] that in later years the client will begin to feel some dissonance in their day to day lives as a function of this paradigm.[vague] The psychodynamic therapist first intervenes to treat the discomfort associated with the poorly formed function[citation needed], then helps the client acknowledge the existence of the maladaption, while working with the client to develop strategies for change.
[edit] References
- ^ psychodynamic psychotherapy - guidetopsychology.com
