Psychodynamic Family Therapy
Ron Pinson
Psychology 643
Intro to Marriage & Family Therapy
Autumn 2011
Professor Katrin Sanford, MS, LMFT
Anna Maria College
PSYCHODYNAMIC FAMILY THERAPY
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
The Beginnings of Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud was the discoverer and inventor of psychoanalysis and coined the term in 1896 after publishing studies on Hysteria with Joseph Breuer in 1895. Psychoanalysis still remains unsurpassed in its approach to understanding human motivation, character development, and psychopathology. Freud’s insights and analyses of psychic determinism, early childhood sexual development, and unconscious processes have left an indelible mark on psychology (Korchin, 1983).
The terms psychoanalyses, psychoanalytic theory, and pertinent to this paper is psychodynamic therapy, are terms that are often used interchangeably to refer to a specific set of therapeutic assumptions and techniques first developed through the writings of Sigmund Freud. These 3 approaches of psychotherapy view the client’s symptoms as a result of interplay of conflict among mental forces, namely: motives, desires, and impulses. These factors regulate and channel our behaviors. An understanding of the client’s childhood, especially his or her early relationships with their parents, helps both the counselor and the client to identify central themes in the client’s life as they apply to current relationships and attitudes toward family, school, and work (Usher, 1993) Psychodynamic therapy is distinguished from psychoanalysis in several particulars, including the fact that psychodynamic therapy need not include all analytic techniques and is not conducted by psychoanalytically trained analysts. Psychodynamic therapy is also conducted over a shorter period of time and with less frequency than psychoanalysis.
Psychodynamic therapy, also known as Insight-Oriented therapy, focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behavior. The goals of
Psychology 643
Intro to Marriage & Family Therapy
Autumn 2011
Professor Katrin Sanford, MS, LMFT
Anna Maria College
PSYCHODYNAMIC FAMILY THERAPY
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
The Beginnings of Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud was the discoverer and inventor of psychoanalysis and coined the term in 1896 after publishing studies on Hysteria with Joseph Breuer in 1895. Psychoanalysis still remains unsurpassed in its approach to understanding human motivation, character development, and psychopathology. Freud’s insights and analyses of psychic determinism, early childhood sexual development, and unconscious processes have left an indelible mark on psychology (Korchin, 1983).
The terms psychoanalyses, psychoanalytic theory, and pertinent to this paper is psychodynamic therapy, are terms that are often used interchangeably to refer to a specific set of therapeutic assumptions and techniques first developed through the writings of Sigmund Freud. These 3 approaches of psychotherapy view the client’s symptoms as a result of interplay of conflict among mental forces, namely: motives, desires, and impulses. These factors regulate and channel our behaviors. An understanding of the client’s childhood, especially his or her early relationships with their parents, helps both the counselor and the client to identify central themes in the client’s life as they apply to current relationships and attitudes toward family, school, and work (Usher, 1993) Psychodynamic therapy is distinguished from psychoanalysis in several particulars, including the fact that psychodynamic therapy need not include all analytic techniques and is not conducted by psychoanalytically trained analysts. Psychodynamic therapy is also conducted over a shorter period of time and with less frequency than psychoanalysis.
Psychodynamic therapy, also known as Insight-Oriented therapy, focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in a person’s present behavior. The goals of
Cited: Brennar, C (1973) An Elementary Handbook on Psychoanalysis. New York, Doubleday. Edwards, D.C. (1968). General Psychology. Iowa State University, New York, Macmillan Press. Good, G. E. & Beitman, B.D. (1954). Counseling and Psychotherapy Essentials, Integrating Theories, Skills and Practices. W.W. Norton Co., New York, New York Greenberg, J.R., & Mitchell, S.A. (1983) Object Relations in Psychoanalytic Theory, Cambridge, MA. Harvard University Press Greenson, R. (1967) The Technique and Practice of Psychoanalysis. New York, International Universities Press. Kohut, H. (1977). The Restoration of the Self. New York, International Universities Press Korchin, S, (1983) The History of Clinical Psychology: A Personal View. In M. Hersen, A. Kazdin, & A. Bellack (Eds.) The Clinical Psychology Handbook (pp5-20) New York, Pergamon Press. Prout, H.A. & Brown, D (2007) Counseling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents, 4th Ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Psychology Today (1972) Various Authors, Psychology Today, An Introduction 2Ed. CRM Books, Del Mar, CA Usher, S. F. (1993). Introduction to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Technique. Madison, CT, International Universities Press.