Question

Explain any two central features of psychodynamic therapy.

Discuss the central features of the psychodynamic therapy.

Answer 1

Two features of phychodynamic therapy:

1. Psychodynamic therapy assumes that intrapsychic conflicts, which are the internal conflicts within an individual's mind, constitute the origin of psychological problems.
2. Unfulfilled childhood desires and fears might cause intrapsychic conflicts. Free association and dream interpretation are effective strategies for identifying intrapsychic issues.

Answer 2

Psychoanalytic therapy is the oldest type of psychological therapy, founded by Sigmund Freud. This intensive and long-term procedure aims to unearth suppressed memories, ideas, fears, and conflicts that may result from early psychosexual development issues.

Free association:

1. The basic principle of free association states that a person must express whatever comes to mind, regardless of how painful, intimate, or seemingly unrelated it may be. The client provides a running list of all the ideas, emotions, and desires that cross his mind while lying comfortably on a couch.
2. The purpose of free association is to thoroughly examine the contents of the subconscious, which is a portion of the mind that is typically disregarded but is subject to conscious attention.

Analysis of dreams:

1. Dream analysis might sometimes reveal unconscious material. During sleep, reflexive defences are reduced, allowing forbidden urges to be expressed through dreams. Dreams are known as “the royal road to the unconscious.” Individuals may convey inappropriate motives in dreams, but only in disguised or symbolic form.
2. A dream has two kinds of contents:
   1. Manifest content: This is the dream as it appears to the dreamer.
   2. Latent content: This includes expressing true motivations that are hurtful and disagreeable, yet concealed.
3. The therapist’s role is to find hidden significance (latent content) in a client’s dream by analysing imagery within the manifest content. A therapist may interpret a child’s dream of being immersed in a tidal wave as a sign of unresolved fear and animosity, indicating a sense of danger.

Analysis of resistance:

1. During free association and dream analysis, individuals may have resistance, which is an unwillingness to discuss certain thoughts, motivations, or experiences.
2. Resistance prevents painful and threatening material from accessing awareness.

Analysis of transference:

1. People often automatically apply their former attitudes and feelings towards their therapist, similar to those they had with parents or other intimate relationships. This procedure is referred to as transference. Clients may react similarly to their analyst, experiencing feelings of affection, hate, or rejection from the past.
2. Transference has two types positive and negative. Positive transference occurs when the client feels positive emotions towards the therapist, while negative transference occurs when negative emotions like anger and aggression emerge. This disrupts the healing process.
3. It is possible to interpret the client’s emotionally charged response. The therapist helps the client insight into the significance of his or her relationship with people from the past by assisting the client in comprehending and acknowledging the transference relationship.
4. In the therapeutic setting, “working through” a comparable emotional conflict with the therapist counteracts the detrimental consequences of the unfavourable early connections. This aids IFT in getting over negative self-perception and hostile feelings brought on by early parental rejection. Transference neurosis is a common term for this event.
5. A successful ‘psychoanalytic cure’ requires resolving the transference neurosis.

Interpretation:

1. Confrontation and clarification are two analytical techniques for interpretation. During confrontation, therapists highlight aspects of the client’s mind that need to be addressed. Clarification is the therapist’s method of bringing an unclear or confused experience into sharp focus. This involves isolating and highlighting vital elements of an event from unimportant ones.
2. ‘Working through’ refers to the continual use of confrontation and clarification.
3. ‘Working through’ leads to insight. Developing insight involves gradually integrating unconscious memories into conscious awareness. Clients gain a deeper understanding of themselves, both intellectually and emotionally.
4. Therapy ends with the client gaining a new understanding of themselves, known as insight. By addressing prior conflicts, defence systems, and physical symptoms, clients can achieve psychological health.