7 Benefits of Psychodynamics
What do you think of when you hear the term “psychoanalysis?” If you find yourself thinking about Oedipal complexes and the Id, Ego, and Superego, chances are you probably remember your Psych 101’s lectures on Sigmund Freud. Being the grandfather of psychoanalysis, you might picture someone lying on a couch and talking about their childhood as an older man puffs away, jotting notes down and nodding.
You may not be aware that there’s another school of thought making a resurgence. But don’t call it a comeback. It’s been here for years.
We’re talking about psychodynamics.
Psychodynamics has been around longer than psychoanalysis. Both of these therapy styles come from Dr. Freud and share similar techniques. Psychodynamics, however, has different objectives and approaches that may appeal to those who are a little wary of therapy.
With technological advances and a global pandemic discouraging in-person sessions, therapy has gone digital. Sites such as BetterHelp can provide virtual psychodynamic sessions from the comfort of your living room.
What is Psychodynamic Psychology?
Psychodynamic psychology is a form of therapy that differentiates from traditional psychoanalysis in several ways. Psychodynamics focuses on emotion, unlike other approaches like cognitive-behavior therapy, which focuses on behavior and thoughts.
Psychodynamics is also less time-consuming, with 1 or 2 therapy sessions a week.
Psychodynamic therapy focuses on a patient’s emotional awareness. Therapists focus on guiding a patient to identify patterns and vibrant blind spots, asking questions along the way to highlight recurring patterns or topics they may be avoiding.
Therapists have less structured conversations that follow whichever direction the patient wishes to go. This less rigid approach allows patients to speak freely, allowing them to talk about whatever they desire.
Psychodynamic psychology aims to help patients uncover their issues and promote enduring change long after therapy ends.
Psychodynamics has helped many people work through their issues and guide them towards a fulfilling life. Here are sevenPsychodynamic psychology aims possible benefits of psychodynamics.
Higher Self-Esteem
Many of us have self-esteem issues that alter how we perceive the world and ourselves. Psychodynamics provides a safe space to identify our belief systems to find the cause of our self-esteem issues. Therapists empower patients through self-discovery and genuine therapist-patient relationships to discover themselves at their own pace.
Emotional Resilience
Psychodynamics gives patients a chance to identify and understand why they feel the way they feel. This sense of awareness can lead to unresolved issues or deeper emotions left unaddressed.
For example, someone who is angry all the time may chalk it up to pandemic stress and bad days. With the help of a therapist, a patient can explore the source of their anger instead of practicing anger management techniques that don’t get to the root.
With this knowledge in hand, patients can learn that they aren’t necessarily their emotions and begin to build awareness when they feel those emotions coming up again. They’ll have a system to gauge situations to see if the situation merits anger or maybe another emotion. Also, patients will be able to identify these emotions in other people and empathize with them.
Self-Awareness
Like emotional resilience, psychodynamics facilitates self-exploration to allow patients to explore all aspects of self in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Knowing oneself cannot be overstated in its importance. Having a more nuanced and holistic self-awareness gives patients more say and control of their decisions and, ultimately, their life.
More Satisfying Sexual Experiences
Psychodynamics helps patients by providing a judgment-free space to talk freely about their desires. By acknowledging their needs and wants, patients can become more open to deeper relationships and true intimacy with a partner. And yes, this can lead to more satisfying sex.
More Fulfilling Relationships
Sometimes, we admire and seek in others what we wish we saw in ourselves. We depend on others to help fill the voids we have in ourselves. This dependency can lead to relationships that don’t last long or seem to never go anywhere beyond the surface.
Psychodynamics can help patients understand themselves more deeply, so there’s no need to rely on others to ‘complete’ them. This newfound awareness, in turn, can lead to more genuine, reciprocal relationships. It also means we are more aware of toxic relationships and rid them from our lives.
Self-Actualization
One of the benefits of psychodynamics is that it promotes long-term growth and gives patients the tools to reap greater rewards over time. With a greater understanding of one’s strengths and how one perceives experiences, patients gain the tools to harness their capabilities and live life more freely and with deeper meaning.
Long-Term Growth
The goal of psychodynamics is to help patients focus on their emotions and the source of their issues and promote more positive and healthier changes in the long run. Psychodynamic psychology allows patients to take ownership of their growth and build strategies that will carry on after the sessions finish. Challenges will always come into our lives. Psychodynamics helps patients to face these challenges head-on.
Final Thoughts
Psychodynamics is a tool that helps patients discover themselves in a way that can deliver long-term growth and lifestyle changes. Patients will discover themselves in a way that empowers them to make changes towards a happier, more fulfilling life.
We hope you enjoyed this post in collaboration with BetterHelp.
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Sources
DeFife, Jared. “Let the Evidence Show: Psychodynamic Therapy Provides Effective and Lasting Benefits.” Psychology Today, 1 Feb. 2010, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-shrink-tank/201002/let-the-evidence-show-psychodynamic-therapy-provides-effective-and.
“Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Brings Lasting Benefits through Self-Knowledge.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, 2010, www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2010/01/psychodynamic-therapy.
“Psychodynamic Therapy.” Counselling Directory, 2021, www.counselling-directory.org.uk/psychodynamic-therapy.html.
“Psychodynamics.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychodynamics.
Publishing, Harvard Health. “Merits of Psychodynamic Therapy.” Harvard Health, Sept. 2010, www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/merits-of-psychodynamic-therapy.
Shedler, Jonathan. “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.” American Psychologist, (Feb.-March 2010): Vol. 65, No.2, pp.98-109
Thomas, Julia. “What Is Psychodynamics And How It Can Help You.” BetterHelp, BetterHelp, 13 Apr. 2018, www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/what-is-psychodynamics-and-how-it-can-help-you/.
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Author Bio
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
