Avoiding Traditional Psychoanalysis: An insolence Founded on Misconstruction

Abstract

Psychoanalysis and its modified versions like psychodynamic psychotherapy constitute important components of modern psychotherapy. Psychodynamic theories stress that early childhood experiences are crucial in shaping the personality. In psychodynamic approaches unconscious conflicts are explored and the insight gained aims to change patients’ maladaptive behavior. The main goals of such kind of psychotherapies are symptom relief and personality modification through exploration of the unconscious. So, the relationship between the therapist and patient is crucially important. Therapies can be offered on an individual, couple, group and therapeutic residential community basis. Psychodynamic psychotherapy has been shown to be a highly efficacious treatment in a range of psychological disorders but patient selection for therapy is important, with consideration of psychological mindedness and a concern with the antecedents as well as the relational contexts of the presenting problem being key [1].