The expression "you have been misled by the unconscious" is a common one, an expression of the notion that everyone recognizes the strength of unconscious functions. Psychodynamic therapists postulate that there must be some sort of "storehouse" where suppressed thoughts, feelings, wishes, and fears are stored. (θεραπεια ζευγους)
Because our defense systems are meant to cut off access to this inner warehouse, it can be hard to bring its contents to light. This is precisely what psychodynamic therapy endeavors to do: bring unconscious processes into awareness.
Psychodynamic therapy usually begins by identifying the defense systems which prevent individuals from confronting unpleasant reality. The most common mechanisms are:
Repression – Reorienting distressful psychological material from the conscious to the unconscious. It is considered the foundation of all other defenses.
Denial – Denying acknowledgment of some impulses or external realities.
Displacement – Redirecting an unacceptable impulse toward a safer substitute.
Reaction Formation – Overcompensating for a disapproved impulse by doing more of the opposite action.
Projection – Projecting one's own unwanted feelings or traits onto others.
To achieve therapeutic benefit, the therapist helps the patient increasingly face and work through such unconscious defenses.
The methods used in psychodynamic therapy attempt to bring unconscious material into conscious awareness and combine it. Key techniques are:
The patient is requested to speak freely whatever comes into mind, feeling, image, and sensation without censorship. This freedom allows hidden content to appear and provides useful information.
Resistance is the forces against the therapeutic process from within—such as avoidance, inhibitions, or inability to verbalize emotions. The therapist helps the patient to become conscious and overcome these obstacles so that the therapy continues.
Transference is the process by which the patient brings along feelings, desires, or anxieties of previous relationships and makes them present against the therapist.
Countertransference is the emotional response of the therapist towards the patient.
Both are important to understanding unconscious dynamics in the therapeutic process.
Dreams may reveal unconscious conflict, providing another window for addressing repressed material.
Modern psychodynamic therapy increasingly borrows from other schools of therapy. For example:
The Empty Chair Technique – Modified from humanistic psychology, this method allows patients to resolve unresolved issues by engaging in an imaginary conversation with a critical person (or aspect of themselves) seated in an empty chair.
Psychodynamic therapy has proved effective in the treatment of various conditions, including:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Depression and anxiety disorders
Phobias
Personality disorders
A few of the key benefits are:
Heightened self-insight into desires, fears, and motivations
Improved mood and emotional balance
Less self-injurious behaviors
Improved decision-making skills
Improved anger control
Improved self-acceptance and self-esteem
Resolution of inner conflict
Interestingly, psychodynamic therapy is not limited to those with mental illness. Some begin psychodynamic therapy simply to learn about themselves, gain a better sense of awareness, and develop as an individual.
Skepticism about the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy is prevalent, but numerous studies have established its merit. Fonagy, Roth, and Higgitt, among others, have solid evidence that psychodynamic techniques are effective in treating a wide range of psychopathologies.
Psychodynamic therapy is actually all about bringing unconscious material into awareness. By using processes such as free association, dream work, working through resistance, and even integrative processes such as the empty chair, it enables individuals to reveal secrets, work out conflicts inside, and mature emotionally.
If you are battling some mental illness or just wish to get to know yourself better, psychodynamic therapy offers a powerful path to healing and self-knowledge. (ψυχοδυναμικη θεραπεια)