Psychodynamic therapy focuses on the effects of past events on the present mental and emotional processes rather than the person's general behavior. It aims to make changes in one's thoughts and behaviors at the desired level by making use of experiences and unconscious processes, especially childhood experiences.

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is a talk therapy that focuses on unconscious processes observed in the person's current state. Rather than focusing on the general behavior of the individual, it focuses more on the effects of the events in the past on the mental and emotional processes of the present.

In this process, various techniques are used to benefit from the messages coming from the unconscious. It is a therapy recommended especially for those who want to deal with the problems they have been dealing with for a long time and solve them in depth.

What are the Areas Where Psychodynamic Therapy is Used?

The situations in which this approach is used are as follows:

• Inability to communicate well
• Depression
• borderline personality disorder
• Anxiety
• Physical symptoms without a biological cause
• sexual problems
• obsession or phobia
• social phobia
• Stress related disorders
• Post-traumatic stress

What is the Purpose of the Psychodynamic Approach?

Psychodynamic therapy is used for the following purposes:

• Eliminating the symptoms of psychological diseases such as depression or panic attacks with treatment
• Bringing the conflicts pushed into the unconscious into consciousness and understanding the situations in which they harm themselves
• To better adapt to life
• The desire to change his behavior and thoughts that are of no use, and also to take control of his life in a healthier way
• Reducing or eliminating the intensity of symptoms of mental illness
• Understanding the importance of establishing healthy relationships and taking steps in this direction
• Increasing self-confidence and enabling an individual or a group to be more independent
• Correction of psychosomatic symptoms

What are the Types of Psychodynamic Therapy?

psychodynamic therapy are as follows:

Music Therapy

It is therapy that helps a person become aware of his inner state and express it with the help of music.

Short Term Therapy

It is a targeted therapy aimed at alleviating the effects of undesirable events that happen to the person, typically lasting between a few sessions and 24 sessions.

Open Dialogue Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a therapy model based on listening and understanding, in which friends and family are active participants.

Writing Therapy

It is a type of therapy applied to convey one's own thoughts and feelings in writing and to identify situations that do not come to mind verbally.

Play Therapy

It is therapy that enables the child to express his feelings and thoughts symbolically through play.

Family Therapy

It is a type of therapy that is done to ensure that the communication within the family goes unconsciously in a healthy way.

Common Techniques Used in Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy uses the following techniques:

• Free Association: Along with expressing the first thought and image that comes to mind, it enables unconscious feelings and thoughts to come to the surface.
• Rorschach Ink Test: It is tried to reach the unconscious perceptions of the person through the first impressions of ink stains in different colors and forms.
• Transfer: It is tried to reach the unconscious of the person in the current situation of the emotions and thought patterns fed to others in childhood.
• Interpretation of Resistance: The person's refraining from revealing his unconscious, engaging in behaviors that will sabotage therapy, or questioning his resistance to change ensures that the underlying reason is tried to be found with the person.
• Dream Analysis: It provides the analysis of the symbols seen in the dream, the events experienced, the emotions felt, with the help of the therapist by making use of the meaning that the person attributes to the objects in his dream.

For Who is the Psychodynamic Approach Suitable For?

Psychodynamic therapy is suitable for:

• People who want to evaluate their long-lasting problems and negativities in their relationships
• People who question their life's purpose or think they are on the verge of depression
• Those with psychosomatic complaints
• People who are disturbed by neurotic conflicts and conflicts in interpersonal relationships
• People who are bored with their phobias, want to get rid of their obsessions, or have sexual problems related to the opposite sex

The problem-focused short-term psychotherapy model is suitable for individuals who want a solution to a particular problem in a short time. However; psychodynamic approach may require a certain time period.