With the introduction of Psychoanalytic psychology, and later, the Psychodynamic therapeutic modality, Sigmund Freud’s influence on the field is inarguable. Many theorists, such as Carl Jung and Alfred Adler, were greatly influenced by Freud’s works, including the “The Interpretation of Dreams.”
Freud’s perception was that the unconscious mind drives our behavior. As a result, the Psychodynamic approach focuses on helping one to identify how the past, such as childhood experiences, influence today’s choices, perceptions, experiences, and feelings.
When thinking of the term “psychology” many people think of the stereotypical Freudian Psychoanalyst passively sitting, listening, as the client lies on the couch. While Freud did sit behind clients as they “free associated” and expressed themselves, most Psychodynamic therapist no longer fit that stereotype! On the whole, psychodynamic therapists work collaboratively and compassionately; encouraging people to gain greater insight into unconscious patterns that may be showing up in their life and causing internal and external conflict.
If you begin psychodynamic therapy, you are likely to meet with your therapist on a weekly basis, but perhaps more than that. What you can be assured of is that he or she will seek to be impartial, yet encourage you to explore unconscious patterns, and how the past is connected to them. By understanding the causes of one’s internal and external conflict, psychodynamic therapy helps people to unravel the mystery behind their problems and to make emotional and behavioral changes.
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