Transforming Mind, Body, and Spirit Through Personalized, Evidence-Based Care

Psychodynamic Approach

 

In the field of counseling, there are two main types of therapeutic approaches: psychodynamic therapy and psychotherapy.  Psychodynamic therapy, also referred to as psychoanalysis, had its’ beginnings in the work of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Melanie Klein.  This type of therapy focuses on the relationship between conscious and unconscious motivation.  The focus is on improved self-awareness and insight into unconscious thoughts and feelings which may be rooted in past relationships.  The core beliefs are:

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• We feel and behave as we do for specific reasons.

   

• We’re often unaware of why we feel and behave in certain ways.

   

• Past experiences, often outside our current awareness, determine how we feel about ourselves and the world.

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While psychodynamic therapy is not specifically an “evidence-based” practice, I often integrate facets of the psychodynamic approach in the beginning stages of therapy as it can provide insight into why many of us consistently and predictably act in self-defeating ways.

 

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Evidence-Based Practices

 

As the field expanded, therapeutic interventions moved beyond the analysis of unconscious conflict toward the development of skills aimed at significantly improving the quality of life by modifying or correcting the content of dysfunctional thoughts.  A primary focus of EBP's is the integral connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which provides an identifiable and systematic method to begin applying evidence-based treatments.  These approaches fall under the realm of cognitive-behavioral therapies, which can provide effective treatment modalities for a wide range of mental health issues, from anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and PTSD.  Therapy is a collaborative process with one of my initial responsibilities as appraising the applicability of a specific approach to determine integration with your values, needs, and goals.  Here are a few examples of EBP’s:

 

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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT):  ACT teaches psychological skills to handle painful thoughts and feelings effectively, in such a way that they have less impact and influence over our lives. It is a behavioral therapy that helps to identify core values as a guide to motivate and inspire behavioral change.  ACT also focuses on mindful action taken consciously with full awareness and engagement in whatever you're doing.  A central premise is to accept whatever is out of your personal control and commit to taking action that enriches your life.

 

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):  How we think, how we feel, and how we behave are interactive components that determine our ability to cope with life stressors.  Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts have significant influence over our feelings and behaviors, as opposed to external things, like people, situations, and events.  The basic premise is that we can significantly influence emotional states by challenging maladaptive thoughts and behavior.   

 

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):  First developed for treating Borderline Personality Disorder, DBT has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by overwhelming emotions.  Research shows that DBT can improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively.  In order to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas:  distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.  As with CBT, there is a distinct cognitive component in terms of recognizing dysfunctional thoughts and their relation to feelings and behavior.

 

 

 

Exposure Therapy:  Exposure therapy is a specific behavioral approach that is often used in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias. Exposure therapy is a safe and proven technique when used by an experienced, licensed therapist who specializes in trauma-focused therapies. When used properly, scientific research has shown that it can be a powerful method to help overcome the anxiety and fear associated with PTSD or phobias.  In PTSD, exposure therapy is intended to help the patient face and gain control of the overwhelming fear and distress of the traumatic event.  It must be done very carefully in order to avoid retraumatizing the patient.  In some cases, traumatic memories or reminders can be confronted all at once ("flooding").  While psychodynamic therapy is not specifically an “evidence-based” practice, facets of this approach in the initial stages of therapy can provide insight into why many of us consistently and predictably act in self-defeating ways.