Concepts Used by Freud for Psychodynamic Counseling
Outline Freud’s main concepts and consider these concepts in relation to the counselling process. Compare with other psychodynamic theory/theorists.
Freud’s psychoanalysis was the original psychodynamic theory, but the psychodynamic approach as a whole includes all theories that were based on his ideas, including those of contemporary theorists such as Jung (1964), Adler (1927) and Erikson (1950). This essay will look at Freud’s main concepts and how these concepts are relevant to the psychodynamic counselling process going on to compare these concepts with those of another psychodynamic theorist, Erikson.
Psychodynamic theory is a complex and involved theory of the human condition and the mind which I am learning includes several key concepts particularly relevant to the clinical counselling process including ego states, transference and counter transference, defence mechanisms and the notion of past and present links.
Freud came to see personality as having three structures, which work together to produce all of our complex behaviours: the id, the ego and the superego. All 3 ego states need to be well-balanced in order to have good store of psychological energy available to enable an equilibrium to benefit mental health. In the Freudian structure of personality the id represents our base instincts. It acts according to the pleasure principle, seeking instant gratification, avoiding pain or displeasure. In Freud’s view, the id is totally unconscious; it has no contact with reality. As children develop they experience the demands and constraints of reality, a new structure of personality emerges- the ego. The ego separates what is real it helps us to organize our thoughts and make sense of the world. It acts in accordance to the reality principle, seeking to satisfy the ids needs in a realistic way. The id and the ego have no morality. The superego is the Freudian structure of personality that is the moral branch of personality. The superego takes into account
Freud’s psychoanalysis was the original psychodynamic theory, but the psychodynamic approach as a whole includes all theories that were based on his ideas, including those of contemporary theorists such as Jung (1964), Adler (1927) and Erikson (1950). This essay will look at Freud’s main concepts and how these concepts are relevant to the psychodynamic counselling process going on to compare these concepts with those of another psychodynamic theorist, Erikson.
Psychodynamic theory is a complex and involved theory of the human condition and the mind which I am learning includes several key concepts particularly relevant to the clinical counselling process including ego states, transference and counter transference, defence mechanisms and the notion of past and present links.
Freud came to see personality as having three structures, which work together to produce all of our complex behaviours: the id, the ego and the superego. All 3 ego states need to be well-balanced in order to have good store of psychological energy available to enable an equilibrium to benefit mental health. In the Freudian structure of personality the id represents our base instincts. It acts according to the pleasure principle, seeking instant gratification, avoiding pain or displeasure. In Freud’s view, the id is totally unconscious; it has no contact with reality. As children develop they experience the demands and constraints of reality, a new structure of personality emerges- the ego. The ego separates what is real it helps us to organize our thoughts and make sense of the world. It acts in accordance to the reality principle, seeking to satisfy the ids needs in a realistic way. The id and the ego have no morality. The superego is the Freudian structure of personality that is the moral branch of personality. The superego takes into account