Psychotherapy
Definition Origin:
1890–95; psycho- + therapy
Gk, comb. psycho-form of psȳchḗ breath, spirit, soul, mind + therapy-a curative power or quality.
Some people refer to psychotherapy as "talking treatment" because it is generally based on talking to the therapist.
Psychotherapy also uses other forms of communication, including free association, relaxation, writing, artwork, drama, narrative story or music. Sessions take place within a structured encounter between the therapist and client.
Pscychodynamic Therapy focuses on the psychological roots of emotional suffering. Its hallmarks are self-reflection and self-examination, and the use of the relationship between therapist and client as a window into problematic relationship patterns in the client's life. Its goal is not only to alleviate the most obvious symptoms, but to help people lead healthier lives.
This type of therapy is fairly long term because it provides a way for people to fully explore their life - how the past is affecting the present, and how they came to be where they are now. It also takes time for a client to develop the depth of trust in a therapist that is required before they can fully explore their most troubling experiences.
Evidence Based Outcomes The research also suggests that when other psychotherapies are effective, it may be because they include unacknowledged psychodynamic elements. "When you look past therapy 'brand names' and look at what the effective therapists are actually doing, it turns out they are doing what psychodynamic therapists have always done - facilitating self-exploration, examining emotional blind spots, understanding relationship patterns."
"The public has been told that only newer, symptom-focused treatments like cognitive behaviour therapy or medication have scientific support,
" The actual scientific evidence shows that psychodynamic therapy is highly effective. The benefits are at least as large as those of other psychotherapies, and they last."
Article: "The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy," Jonathan K. Shedler, PhD, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine; American Psychologist, Vol. 65. No.2.
