Psychodynamic Therapy In Paul's Psychodynamic Perspective
Spring 2017
In the HBO series In Treatment, therapist Paul uses psychodynamic therapy to treat Sophie, a 16-year-old gymnast struggling to accept the reality of her negative relationship with her father. The psychodynamic approach stems from Sigmund Freud’s work and his concept of psychoanalytic theory. In Freud’s view, mental disorders stem from internal and unconscious conflicts, mostly related to suppressed sexual drives. In the psychodynamic approach—which is much less intense and focuses less on sexual drives—the therapist employs numerous techniques to uncover the unconscious motives behind behaviors and feelings. This theory assumes that the unconscious mind is of central importance in mental functioning and that behaviors are symbolic …show more content…
After struggling to maintain a happy home life, Sophie found a “surrogate family” with her gymnastics coach—Cy—and his family. Rather than blaming Cy—the adult in the situation and the one in the relationship—she blames herself. Sophie becomes distressed when Paul asks her questions regarding her relationship to her father and shows resistance: she likely avoids these questions because they bring up painful memories. He primarily asks “why” questions to help him understand and to help Sophie confront her thoughts and consider the reasoning behind her thoughts and emotions. Because Sophie has not yet gained much insight into her feelings, being forced to face them is difficult and distressing for her. Sophie brings in her fourth-grade diary that she confided in and expressed her thoughts and feelings during the period of her father’s infidelity. Paul suggests that she brought the diary to see if he was right about how hard it was for her to lie to her mother. When Sophie mentions that she kept the diary on her nightstand, Paul interprets it as her wanting her mother to find
In the HBO series In Treatment, therapist Paul uses psychodynamic therapy to treat Sophie, a 16-year-old gymnast struggling to accept the reality of her negative relationship with her father. The psychodynamic approach stems from Sigmund Freud’s work and his concept of psychoanalytic theory. In Freud’s view, mental disorders stem from internal and unconscious conflicts, mostly related to suppressed sexual drives. In the psychodynamic approach—which is much less intense and focuses less on sexual drives—the therapist employs numerous techniques to uncover the unconscious motives behind behaviors and feelings. This theory assumes that the unconscious mind is of central importance in mental functioning and that behaviors are symbolic …show more content…
After struggling to maintain a happy home life, Sophie found a “surrogate family” with her gymnastics coach—Cy—and his family. Rather than blaming Cy—the adult in the situation and the one in the relationship—she blames herself. Sophie becomes distressed when Paul asks her questions regarding her relationship to her father and shows resistance: she likely avoids these questions because they bring up painful memories. He primarily asks “why” questions to help him understand and to help Sophie confront her thoughts and consider the reasoning behind her thoughts and emotions. Because Sophie has not yet gained much insight into her feelings, being forced to face them is difficult and distressing for her. Sophie brings in her fourth-grade diary that she confided in and expressed her thoughts and feelings during the period of her father’s infidelity. Paul suggests that she brought the diary to see if he was right about how hard it was for her to lie to her mother. When Sophie mentions that she kept the diary on her nightstand, Paul interprets it as her wanting her mother to find