...Psychodynamic therapy Contemporary psychodynamic therapy has root in Freudian drive theory, ego psychology, object relations theory, and self psychology. Psychodynamic approach stemmed from the basic tenets of psychoanalytic theories. Thus these approaches appear very similar to one another (Onkun, 1990). The central themes of this approach include unconscious, drive, defense, fantasy, and transference-countertransference (Safran & Kriss, 2014). The goals of psychodynamic therapy range from reorganizing and restructuring of self (or personality) to achieving higher social and occupational functions. Also, this approach aims to help the client to bring suppressed painful and threatening life materials into consciousness. The psychodynamic...
Words: 851 - Pages: 4
...between Psychodynamic and Behaviourist Approaches Assumptions - The Psychodynamic Approach assumes that it is our unconscious mind, that we have no direct control of, that produces our behaviour. The Behaviourist Approach assumes that it is our past learning history that determines our behaviour, as Behaviourism assumes that all our behaviour is learned. Methodology - The Psychodynamic Approach tends to use Case Studies to investigate the cause of our behaviour. The Behaviourist Approach tends to use Experiments, but has the tendency to gather data using Observation, this is because of the importance Behaviourism places on observable behaviour. Scientific Approach - The Psychodynamic Approach takes a very idiographic approach. That means that a lot of the information has been interpreted by one individual and has not been objectively measured. The Behaviourist Approach, on the other hand, tends to use an objective, scientific approach, where behaviour is directly observed by an independent observer.. Reductionism - When something as complex as human behaviour is explained by the Psychodynamic and Behaviourist Approaches, they each simplify human behaviour in terms of their own approach. The Psychodynamic Approach explains human behaviour in terms of unconscious motivation, and the Behaviourist Approach explains it in terms of the importance of learned behaviour. Determinism - When looking at the factors that are thought to control human behaviour, the Psychodynamic Approach...
Words: 640 - Pages: 3
...in one way or another. Depression manifest it’s self in many ways. It causes weight gain, weight loss, anxiety, moodiness, sadness, irritability, restlessness, loss of interest in people, places, and things, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and much more. Because depression has so many different facets, it stands to reason that there are just as many ways to effectively treat the disorder. Psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and family systems are clinical psychological approaches to depression. Each one uses a different approach and in some areas there are overlaps. The information in this paper addresses origins, goals, and techniques of the approaches. Also, an explanation of how each approach affects the treatment strategies of the selected disorder, and the effectiveness of each approach. Major Approaches to Clinical Psychology Psychodynamic therapy is talk therapy like what a person sees depicted on television or in the movies. This type of therapy allows patients to examine emotions, feelings, thoughts, and memories ("Web Md", 2005-2012). Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the “…form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do…” ("National Association Of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist", 1996-2010). Cognitive-behavioral (CBT) is based on the theory, that one’s beliefs effect, his or her emotions and actions, not exterior things, like family, circumstances, and proceedings. The advantage of this information is...
Words: 1506 - Pages: 7
...Evaluating Psychodynamic psychotherapy Posted March 10, 2006 by Yousif Al Saif • Updated March 13, 2006 Sigmund Freud is one of the founding fathers of modern psychology. He started his work in psychiatry after finishing his medical training in Vienna. He was taught in Paris by one of the most influential psychiatrist in his time Charcot. Charcot tackled hysteria by using hypnosis as a treatment technique. Freud, however, thought that hypnosis is not an effective treatment approach to hysteria and decided to pursue another approach. He later adopted a method of treatment called "free association" where the client says whatever comes to his/her mind and used the resulting stream of strong conscious emotions as a helpful way to his patients (McLeod, 1998). Freud also used dream analysis as a way to enter the subconscious and unveil the suppressed thoughts and memories of patients (Freud, 1900). He also noted key psychotherapeutic phenomenons such as the client-therapist’s “transference” and “counter-transference” and the client’s “resistance”. Freud theories went through considerable modification by the neo-Freudians such as Carl Jung, Otto Rank, and Alfred Adler. Now some psychotherapists base their work broadly on Freud’s work but mainly on neo-Freudians which is called the psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy. The psychodynamic approach gives great importance to childhood experiences and believes that the client’s psychological problems are a direct result of these experiences...
Words: 1894 - Pages: 8
...Psychodynamic Approach • Freud’s psychoanalysis was the original psychodynamic theory, but the psychodynamic approach as a whole includes all theories that were based on his ideas. • The words psychodynamic and psychoanalytic are often confused. Remember that Freud’s theories were psychoanalytic, whereas the term ‘psychodynamic’ refers to both his theories and those of his followers. Freud’s psychoanalysis is both a theory and a therapy. • Sigmund Freud (writing between the 1890s and the 1930s) developed a collection of theories which have formed the basis of the psychodynamic approach to psychology. His theories are clinically derived - i.e. based on what his patients told him during therapy. The psychodynamic therapist would usually be treating the patient for depression or anxiety related disorders. Psychodynamic Approach Assumptions * Our behavior and feelings are powerfully affected by unconscious motives. * Our behavior and feelings as adults are rooted in our childhood experiences. * All behavior has cause even slips of the tongue. Therefore all behavior is determined. * Personality is made up of three parts: the id, ego and super-ego. * Behavior is motivated by two instinctual drives: Eros (the sex drive & life instinct) and Thanatos (the aggressive drive & death instinct). * Parts of the unconscious mind are in constant conflict with the conscious part of the mind. This conflict creates anxiety, which could be dealt with by the ego’s...
Words: 595 - Pages: 3
...is on psychodynamic (intergenerational and psychoanalytic) family therapies; and how these concepts apply to helping the protagonist in the major motion picture Antwone Fisher overcome traumatic incidents he experienced during his childhood and adolescent years, as well as help him to manage his current anger issues. Psychodynamics, in its broadest sense, is an approach to the study of human behavior that emphasizes the study and use of the psychological forces that underlie human behavior, feelings and emotions; how they relate to early childhood experiences . . . (Sher & Sher, 2015). Intergenerational and psychoanalytic family therapies can be described as an approach to the study of how a person’s maladaptive behavior is influenced by unresolved issues within the family dynamics and multigenerational processes. Psychodynamic (intergenerational and psychoanalytic) family therapies apply to the protagonist in the major motion picture Antwone Fisher because of the traumatic incidents he experienced during his childhood and adolescent years: childhood physical, sexual, and mental abuse; neglect and abandonment; death, grief, and loss; repressed emotions, identity and self-worth issues, interpersonal relationships, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These concepts also apply to Antwone because of current rage/anger issues he is exhibiting. According to the Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (2015, p. 18) psychodynamic family therapy combines...
Words: 2825 - Pages: 12
...Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors Diploma in Counselling Studies Title Describe the four major theories of counselling: Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural, Behavioural and Humanistic with reference to relevant literature (3000 words). Student: asdfdsf Date: 28th May, 2014 Words: 3097 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Key Figures 4 Basic Assumptions and Key Concepts 7 Therapy – goals, clinical relationship and techniques 10 Conclusion 14 Appendix A – References 16 Introduction This essay will present and contrast the workings of the three major theories of counselling psychology mainly – psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and person-centred. First I will describe what psychology is and what counselling entails, then I will explain why there are different schools of thought around counselling psychology, before introducing each in turn. My discussion will examine the three theories or approaches for a history of the founder and a rationale for why they were led to introducing a new therapy approach and a sketch of the key concepts. Further, I will look at methods and processes employed by each theory, the respective roles played by the therapist and the client and the various situations to which the theory can be applied. Finally I will examine the limitations of the theory...
Words: 3504 - Pages: 15
...Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors Diploma in Counselling Studies Title Describe the four major theories of counselling: Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural, Behavioural and Humanistic with reference to relevant literature (3000 words). Student: asdfdsf Date: 28th May, 2014 Words: 3097 Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Key Figures 4 Basic Assumptions and Key Concepts 7 Therapy – goals, clinical relationship and techniques 10 Conclusion 14 Appendix A – References 16 Introduction This essay will present and contrast the workings of the three major theories of counselling psychology mainly – psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and person-centred. First I will describe what psychology is and what counselling entails, then I will explain why there are different schools of thought around counselling psychology, before introducing each in turn. My discussion will examine the three theories or approaches for a history of the founder and a rationale for why they were led to introducing a new therapy approach and a sketch of the key concepts. Further, I will look at methods and processes employed by each theory, the respective roles played by the therapist and the client and the various situations to which the theory can be applied. Finally I will examine the limitations of the theory...
Words: 3504 - Pages: 15
...As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “therapy” is formally known as the therapeutic treatment of bodily, mental, or behavioral disorders. Whether it is short term or long term, therapy is something that can be quite beneficial. There are many different types of therapy, for a wide variety of health issues, but I am going to be talking about psychotherapy specifically. Throughout history, the mental health system has been through many changes and different approaches to therapy have been adopted. With these changes, there has also been the addition of various different mental health resources. When most people think about therapy, they imagine an individual laying on a couch in their counselor’s office with the therapist sitting, usually...
Words: 1293 - Pages: 6
...Team C Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Laura Carranza Armanda Meadows Quoc Nguyen Andrea Sanchez Julann Wygal PSY/300 May 8, 2012 Mary Madrigal PhD Abnormal Psychology and Therapy The purpose of this paper is to discuss abnormal psychology and therapy. First this paper will define what abnormal psychology is. Then this paper will compare and contrast normal and abnormal psychology. Then the paper will examine at least two mental disorders from the perspective of psychology. Next the paper will examine two mental illnesses from the perspective of psychology. Finally the paper will discuss the similarities and difference among two different therapies in the schools of thought in psychology for treating mental disorders. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Normal vs. Abnormal Psychology The study of "normal" psychology is simply the study of someone who is in good health both mentally and physically. Said person adheres to and is responsive to social norms, and engages in activities that are socially acceptable and do not stray from the norm. Normal psychology is the study of the mind and the study of behavior. When unusual patterns of behavior, thought and emotion are studied, it falls under the branch of psychology called Abnormal psychology. The control and understanding of behavior that is considered to be deviant or aberrant either statistically or morally, has been the subject of much research and debate. Psychologists who focus on abnormal psychology identify the...
Words: 2140 - Pages: 9
...Psychological Perspective Paper Introduction Psychology is the study of human and animal behavior. There are various perspectives within psychology and the upcoming paragraphs deal with 6 psychological perspectives: Behavioral, Cognitive, Biological, Developmental, Psychodynamic, Sociocultural and Evolutionary. Psychological Perspectives All six perspectives seek to explore and examine human behavior and makes use of varying techniques in order to do so. Each perspective tries to search for answers to different questions, which exist about behavior. Each of these perspectives is different hence they have there own reasoning and explanation. Among the perspectives of psychology, many have been accepted some whereas others have had difficulty in being accepted. Behavioral Behavioral Psychology is a branch is psychology that claims that all behavior is learned through conditioning. The field is also known as behaviorism. The idea behind it is that all people acquire their behavior by interacting with their environment through classical condition or operant conditioning. Classical conditioning is the involuntary, or automatic, response to a stimulus (i.e. fight or flight response) where as Operant conditioning is that of a learned behavior through positive/negative reinforcement (consequences) or positive/negative punishment. (What Is Behavioral Psychology, 2011) Cognitive Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology that studies mental processes including how...
Words: 1416 - Pages: 6
...Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Jessica King, Galen Gill, Nathan Ferrell PSY January 6, 2015 Wanda Meneese Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Psychology is defined as the scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior (Kowalski & Westen, 2011). There are two types of psychology that will be compared and contrasted within this paper; normal and abnormal. What is considered normal? What is considered abnormal? What distinguishes one from the other? How are both types alike? Abnormal Psychology is associated with diagnosis and therapy, while normal psychology focuses on understanding the cognition and behavior of those who are not. Both types of therapy can enlist many different types of approaches such as psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, biological, and humanistic. There is no clear and concise way to define abnormal behaviors that are studied within psychology. Abnormal behaviors are considered those behaviors within a certain society or group that are atypical. Determining a way to define abnormal behavior has been a work in progress for centuries. Social behaviors that are typically not considered acceptable within a group may classify someone as abnormal while in another group these behaviors may be acceptable and thus the person would be considered normal. Individuals that are considered abnormal have a difficult time functioning and adapting to specified conditions. Abnormal behavior studies include mental processes and psychopathology...
Words: 1337 - Pages: 6
...INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (McLeod, 2015) Psychodynamic approach includes human functioning that drives within the unconscious and between different structures of personality. The understanding of human behaviour is called ‘psychoanalysis’. (Freud, 1939), the father of psychology, assumed that mental illnesses wasn’t something to be treated medically but by what has come to be known as psychodynamic therapy. He advocated that the unconscious mind could influence the mental illness whilst recovering (Cardwell, 1996). This approach to psychoanalysis is demonstrated in his treatment of Anna O. Freud assumed that mental illnesses wasn’t something to be treated medically but by therapy. He implicated that unconscious mind could influence the mental illness whilst recovering (Cardwell, 1996). He diagnosed her illness as hysteria and developed a form of therapy to treat her symptoms (Webster, 2015). (Cardwell, 2004) Freud compared the mind to an iceberg with the water above being the conscious and the water beneath the unconscious part of the mind. The id - the primary part of personality follows pleasure and gratification, and dominates the unconscious part of the mind. Ego - driven by reality principles and penalties of an action dominates the conscious mind. Superego contains conscience and guilt, and also dwells mostly in the conscious mind. The superego develops as we become aware of societal rules. (Cardwell, 1996) According to Freud we have two drives which are sex and...
Words: 3310 - Pages: 14
...The expression “I feel depressed” is used normally as a throwaway comment when we are feeling sad or miserable. Normally these feeling will pass us by, and we then continue with our everyday life without another thought. But what if these feeling didn’t disappear over time? What happens when these start to interfere with our everyday life? What if the enviorment around us is the major cause of depression? It’s not really hard to believe when you think about it as we are faced with mass unemployment, and a recession which can put heavy strain on even the most balanced of individuals and their interpersonal relationships around them. There are many interpersonal instances that can have the ability to lead to the onset of depression, such as the family environment, the socialization setting, and the discrimination against gender in certain cultures and instances. Depression has many brothers and sisters in the medical world, ranging from disorders such as Dysthymia, postnatal depression and in some extreme cases of depression such as Bio polar, and major depression (Unipolar). But no matter what the diagnosis is or how serious the depression is, depression is not trivial and is a real health condition contrary to what some people believe. It is not something that you can just snap out of and more importantly it is not a sign of weakness. For many people depression can affect them in different ways to other people with the same condition but normally the symptoms are similar...
Words: 4908 - Pages: 20
...A Theory in Progress Every theory begins with just a thought. One thought can change the course of history and the lives of many. Aristotle had a thought when he saw the shadow cast by the earth upon the moon. This thought led to the theory that the world is round, which people know to be true. There is no brilliance in coming up with a theory, only a thought that leads to a larger idea, which soon becomes a theory. Sigmund Freud's theories about the unconscious mind led him to what he calls psychoanalysis. In layman's terms, psychoanalysis is little more than a patient sitting in a room with another person discussing the issues that bother him or her in his or her life. When thinking about this on a broader scale, psychoanalysis is much more. Psychoanalysis with a well educated and trained individual can open the eyes to see deeper into the patients psyche. When the psychoanalyst gives the patient the right tools, he or she can help the patient overcome the obstacles that hold him or her hostage. Thought to Theory Some of the brightest minds in history made their theory into scientific data that people of all ages learn from. Each one; forming an idea in their mind and putting their idea into practice, and then ultimately becoming a theory. Theories are always changing and making better the ideas of the past. Not one person can truly know the human mind to its fullest, but with practice and theory people can learn more about the mind and obtain a better understanding of how...
Words: 2247 - Pages: 9
