When you think of treatment for a mental condition like depression, do you think of a scene in a movie where you sit in a chair with a doctor and talk about your past? This image that we often imagine is actually very similar to a type of therapy. That's what we call psychodynamic therapy . This involves talking deeply about your feelings, especially those that you may not be aware of. Talking in this way can help you understand how some of the events and feelings you've repressed in your past are affecting your current behavior and the sadness you feel.
How is Psychodynamic Therapy different from other treatments?
There are three main types of talk therapy used for depression. Psychodynamic therapy is one of them. The other two are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) . They differ in the main focus of each treatment.
Simply put, both CBT and IPT are short-term treatments, and they focus on finding quick solutions to your current problems.
- CBT focuses on the way you think, because the way you think directly affects your feelings and actions. So this treatment involves identifying and changing your faulty, dysfunctional thought patterns.
- IPT focuses on identifying problems in your interpersonal relationships with people like your family, friends, and workmates and teaching you ways to resolve them.
However, Psychodynamic Therapy is a little different. It is based on Freud's theories of psychoanalysis. This method believes that our behavior is greatly influenced by our unconscious mind and past experiences . Therefore, in this therapy, you talk in depth about your feelings, thoughts, and past.
To further explain the differences between these three treatment methods, see this table .
| Treatment method | Main focus | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| Psychodynamic Therapy | Subconscious emotions, past experiences and how they affect the present (finding the 'root' of the problem). | An open conversation. Often long-term (several months or more than a year). |
| CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) | Identifying dysfunctional or negative thought patterns and changing them. | There is a specific plan. Short-term (like 12-20 weeks). |
| IPT (Interpersonal Relationship Therapy) | Identifying and managing problems in relationships with others. | There is a specific plan. Short-term (like 12-16 weeks). |
Psychodynamic therapy usually meets once a week for about 50 minutes. You are encouraged to talk freely about whatever comes to mind (free association). As you talk, patterns in your behavior and feelings begin to emerge. You may not have noticed these patterns before. The therapist helps you identify these patterns and understand how they affect your life.
Is this treatment really effective?
A few decades ago, many people thought that there was not enough scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of Psychodynamic Therapy. This is because those who practiced this method were not as interested in conducting research as those who practiced methods like CBT. However, in recent years, that situation has changed, and there has been a lot of research on this as well.
A 2010 report published in the American Journal of Psychology found that Psychodynamic Therapy is as effective as other evidence-based therapies .
Also, another important finding from that research is that the positive results obtained from Psychodynamic Therapy tend to last longer than the results obtained from other methods.
That means the healing from this can be more permanent.
What are the main characteristics of Psychodynamic Therapy?
There are several points to pay special attention to in this treatment method.
1. Talking deeply about feelings
This gives you the opportunity to talk about all the feelings you have. You may have conflicting feelings (for example, feeling both love and anger towards someone). Or you may have feelings that are troubling or frightening. You may even have feelings that you haven't recognized for a long time. You are encouraged to talk about all of these with your therapist.
2. Identifying Defense Mechanisms
This is very important. 'Defense mechanisms' are the ways we unconsciously use to protect ourselves from painful thoughts and feelings.
Think about it this way. When you talk about a traumatic event in your past, you often change the subject. Or you arrive late for therapy sessions when you are supposed to talk about it. Maybe you don't talk about what happened to you during the event, but only about external things. These are what we call 'defense mechanisms' . This therapy helps you identify and deal with these.
3. Identifying Recurring Patterns
During therapy, your therapist will begin to notice patterns in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Often, these are subtle things that you don't realize. Your therapist will help you understand what these patterns are and how they affect your life.
4. Attention to relationships
This therapy focuses on your relationships. In particular, the relationship between you and your therapist . The way you interact with your therapist can give you a good idea of how you interact with others. Many of our psychological problems stem from our lack of connection with others. So this guide will help you identify and address these.
What can you expect from this treatment?
The main goal of psychodynamic therapy is to give you a better understanding of yourself (self-awareness). This is to give you deeper insight into your subconscious conflicts, your feelings, and your motivations.
When you gain self-awareness in this way, you begin to feel relief from symptoms like depression.
Simply put, this is not like cutting off a branch from a tree, but rather treating the root of the tree's disease. Through this, you will be able to build the strength within yourself to deal with your mental problems. This treatment can be a great help in facing and overcoming the things that have been weighing you down for so long and affecting your life, and living a more fulfilling life.
Take-Home Message
- Psychodynamic Therapy is a talking therapy used for depression. It focuses primarily on your subconscious feelings and past experiences.
- This is different from short-term treatments like CBT and IPT, which look deeper into the 'why' of the problems.
- The goal is not just to suppress symptoms, but to build long-term healing and mental strength by providing a better understanding of oneself.
- If you have depression or think this type of treatment might be right for you, it's important to talk to your doctor about it and get proper guidance.
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