When people think about Psychodynamic treatment they often think it focuses only on one’s childhood, sexual impulses, and unconscious content. This is partly true, as portions of psychodynamic treatment focus on the quest to make the unconscious, conscious. However, psychodynamic treatment also focuses on gaining awareness of thoughts, feelings, and patterns based on past relationships and experiences that may be out of our awareness. In fact, the same patterns which occur outside of the counseling office often show themselves within the office as well. Psychodynamic treatment highlights a person’s defenses, conflicts, and patterns that may inhibit them from living a fulfilling
life with their work, friends, family, and romantic partners. Common themes or sayings which come up in the initial consult may sound like, “Why can’t I find a husband/wife?”, “Why is it so hard for me to hold a job?” or “I am not sure why they left me.” What does
Psychodynamic treatment look like?
Daniel* was referred to me because he would often verbally lash out at people at work. This also carried over to his personal life where he would throw objects in the house or project his anger onto his wife or dog. Daniel was resistant to beginning therapy, which makes sense, especially if coming to therapy means you have to open up, share your feelings, and talk about current stressors.
For Daniel, anger got deployed whenever we broached topics one would normally discuss in therapy. For example, he would raise his voice or give me sarcastic and defiant answers when I asked him to share his stressors or talk about his family.
Anger is our protector. It can shield us from danger, vulnerability, sadness, anxiety and internal experiences we wish to not feel. Often anger is the quickest way to distance oneself from other people. Our society labels anger as a bad thing, an
emotion we should not feel or act on, but anger is necessary for the human experience.
I pointed out Daniel’s anger whenever I would ask him a question about his job, wife, or anything beyond surface level topics. He paused and just stared at me. I told him how his anger impacted me and I wondered if this was how other people felt when he got upset. When Daniel raised his voice, I felt so small and truly insignificant. His anger made me feel like whatever I said or felt did not matter. Daniel told me that he had no idea because people would often walk away or get upset at him and not tell him how his actions affected them. Just helping him gain awareness on how his emotions impacted me and others Daniel was able to see how these patterns stop him from forming deep, positive, and empathic relationships.
It is about the Relationship
It is important to note that the psychodynamic treatment process is done as a partnership and created between both the therapist and the client. Like any personal relationship, therapy is no different. There needs to be trust, openness, and reflection for both parties, with the intention to change and grow.
Regardless of the type of therapy you may seek out, co-creating a relationship together with the intention to help and heal is vital. Think for a moment about some of the most positive experiences you have had in your life. Most likely they involve other people sharing that experience with you. It could be the birth of a child, getting a job, graduating from school, all of these events happen with compassion and support from others. Psychodynamic treatment gives you the tools to work through your unconscious blocks in order to build the relationships you truly desire.
Dr. Alex Rowell 