What Is an Example of Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy helps understand one’s self-emotions and mental thoughts, which helps improve their quality of life by making better choices.

Psychodynamic therapy works on the principles of Sigmund Freud, known as the “Father of Psychoanalysis”.

• Psychodynamic therapy takes fewer sessions than psychoanalysis therapy. 
• Psychodynamic therapy takes one to two sessions weekly, whereas traditional psychoanalysis therapy takes four to five sessions weekly.

Psychodynamic therapy is a talking therapy that takes place between the therapist and the individual, in which the person is allowed to talk. Talking helps you overcome unconscious emotions inside you, and talking about the issues you are going through will help you understand those issues and solve them better.

This therapy boosts confidence and helps improve emotional growth.

Features of psychodynamic therapy include the following:

• Explores and motivates a person's emotions.
• Helps realize that past experiences are the reasons for present emotions.
• Helps in emotional understanding that improves a person’s quality of life.
• Makes people free from their past experiences.
• Elaborates on personal choices and relationships that may help people overcome their problems for a better quality of life.

Concepts of psychodynamic therapy include the following:

• Dealing with conscious, subconscious, and unconscious emotions
• With id, ego, superego
• Collective unconsciousness
• Defense mechanisms
• Psychosexual development
• Psychosocial development      
• Childhood experiences

Psychodynamic therapy is a talk therapy that works in the following ways:

• Understanding the issues: Initially, during your first session, you will discuss your challenges and the symptoms you are bothered about. If you are diagnosed with a mental illness, inform your therapist. This first stage of the therapy helps set goals for the treatment.
• Ask different questions: The therapist may ask you various questions depending on the situation, such as discussing events that occurred in the past, any fears or phobias, troubling thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You may get the answers required, and this helps fight against the issues.

Psychodynamic therapy effectively treats depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and stress-related ailments. It has lasting effects that improve social phobia, anxiety, and panic disorder.

Few studies have reported that psychodynamic therapy is effective in treating some chronic pains, anorexia nervosa, and personality disorders and treating psychopathology in children and teenagers.

Medications

Antidepressants and anxiety medications help treat depression and other mental health issues.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

A psychological treatment that helps a person live with new patterns of thought and is effective for problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, and several mental disorders.

Cognitive behavioral therapy removes all negative thoughts and improves the quality of life. Usually, cognitive behavioral therapy takes 5 to 20 one-to-one sessions, in which each session can last 30 to 60 minutes, and some may take more sessions or group sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps treat various emotional challenges.

The limitations of psychodynamic therapy include it is less effective in treating the following conditions:

• Genetic elements that affect and contribute to mental health concerns
• Neglects the mediational processes
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Drug addiction
• Psychosis