The 7 main psychodynamic theories

If we think of psychotherapy, the image that probably comes to mind is that of an individual lying on a couch explaining his problems to a psychologist sitting behind him while he takes notes and asks him things. However, this image does not necessarily correspond to reality: there are multiple schools and currents of thought in psychologySome are more appropriate than others depending on the specific case being treated.

One of the first great currents of thought to emerge was Freud's psychoanalysis. But Freud's students and those followers who decided to break up with him due to discrepancies in some elements of his theory also continued to generate content and add new theories and aspects to therapy psychoanalytic. These are the so-called psychodynamic approaches. And with them, different therapies emerged. In this article we will see the main psychodynamic models and theories.

• You may be interested: "History of Psychology: main authors and theories"

Psychodynamic theories

The concept of psychodynamic theory may seem unique and unitary, but the truth is that it includes a wide number of ways of understanding the human mind. When we speak of psychodynamic theories we are therefore speaking of a heterogeneous set of perspectives that

have their origin in conceptions of mental processes derived from psychoanalysis.

In this sense, all of them share with Freudian theory the idea that there are intrapsychic conflicts between the conscious and the unconscious, being one of the main objectives of therapy to help make the patient able to understand and manage the unconscious content (bringing it to consciousness).

In addition, psychodynamic theories also consider the existence of defense strategies and mechanisms used by the psyche to minimize the suffering they generate these conflicts, and they agree that the psychic structure and personality are formed during childhood from the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of needs. Children's experience is very relevant to this current, as well as the interpretation of these experiences and the transfers. They also consider that the interaction with the therapist will make the patient relive repressed experiences and representations, turning to the professional.

These psychodynamic models and theories differ from psychoanalysis, among other things, in that focus more on the reason for consultation identified by the patient and not in a complete personality restructuring. The therapies are not as long and are more widely spaced, in addition to being open to a large number of mental disorders and problems and not just neuroses and hysteria. There are other differences, but these will largely depend on the specific psychodynamic model that is observed.

• You may be interested: "9 differences between Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Therapy"

Some of the main therapies and models

As we have mentioned, there are many psychodynamic theories and therapies. Here are some of the best known.

Adler's individual psychology

One of the main neo-Freudian models is that of Adler, one of the authors who parted ways with Freud due to multiple discrepancies with some aspects of psychoanalytic theory.

This author considered that libido was not the main motor of the psyche, but rather the search for acceptance and belonging, which will generate anxieties that, if not supplied, will provoke feelings of inferiority. Also he considered the human being a unitary being, understandable on a holistic level, which is not a passive being but has the ability to choose. This author considers the lifestyle as one of the most relevant aspects to work together with the desire for power derived from the feeling of inferiority and the objectives and goals of the subject.

His psychotherapy is understood as a process that seeks to confront and change the subject's way of facing tasks vital, trying to make explicit the guideline of the subject's performance to promote self-efficacy and self-confidence same.

From this psychodynamic theory it is proposed in the first place the establishment of a relationship of trust and recognition between therapist and patient, trying to bring the objectives of both closer to achieving the recovery of the second. Subsequently, the problems in question are explored and the observation of the strengths and competencies of the patient is favored, which he will end up using to solve them.

The lifestyle and the decisions made are analyzed, after which the focus will shift to working on the beliefs, goals and vital objectives of the subject in order for it to be able to self-understand its own logic internal. Finally, we work together with the patient to develop habits and behaviors that allow the reorientation of the behavior towards the tasks and objectives of the subject.

• Related article: "Alfred Adler: biography of the founder of Individual Psychology"

Jungian analytical theory

Jung's model is another of the main neo-Freudian models, being one of Freud's followers who decided to break with him due to various discrepancies. From this model we work with aspects such as dreams, artistic expressions, complexes (unconscious organizations of unrecognized emotional experiences) and archetypes (inherited images that make up our collective unconscious).

The objective of this therapy is to achieve the development of an integrated identity, trying to help the subject to take into account what Jung interpreted as unconscious forces. In the first place, the subject is confronted with his person (the part of himself that he recognizes as his own and that expresses the outside world) and with the shadow of him (the part of our being that we do not express and that we usually project onto others) ensuring that through treatment get.

After that, the anima and animus archetypes are worked on, the archetypes that represent the feminine and the masculine and how they are worked and projected in social relationships. Later in a third stage we seek to work on the archetypes corresponding to wisdom and synchronicity with the universe through the analysis of dreams and elaborations artistic (which are analyzed, among other methods, through the use of association in particular elements of the dreams). We work collaboratively with the patient and try to integrate the different facets of being.

Sullivan's interpersonal perspective

Sullivan considered that the main element that explains our psychic structure are interpersonal relationships and how these are lived, configuring our personality based on personifications (ways of interpreting the world), dynamics (energies and needs) and the elaboration of a system of the self.

At the therapy level, this is understood as a form of interpersonal relationship that provides security and facilitates learning. This should generate changes in the person and situation, working the therapist actively and directive without increasing the subject's distress.

Mainly it is proposed to work from obtaining information and correcting that which is erroneous, modifying dysfunctional evaluation systems, work on the subject's personal distance with people and situations, correct phenomena such as interacting with others believing that they will interact with us like other significant others, seek and reintegrate the patient's inhibited elements and seek that this be able to communicate and express logical thoughts and the pursuit of satisfaction while reducing the need for safety and avoidance experiential.

• You may be interested: "Harry Stack Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory"

The theory of object relations

Melanie Klein is maybe one of the greatest figures in the psychoanalytic tradition of the Self, followers of Freud who followed her theoretical line by adding new content and areas of study. In her case, the study and focus on minors.

One of the most relevant theories of it is the theory of object relations, in which it proposes that individuals relate to the environment based on of the link we make between subject and object, the unconscious fantasy generated by the object being especially relevant when explaining the conduct.

When working with children, special importance is given to symbolic play as a method to work and externalize unconscious fantasies, to later try to clarify the anxieties that derive from them and introduce modifications both through play and by other means such as creative visualization, narrative, drawing, dance or games of roles ..

Other more recent psychodynamic theories

There are many approaches, models and theories that have been developed throughout history from the psychodynamic approach. In addition to the above there are some relatively recent psychodynamic theories and therapies, very focused on the practice and day-to-day therapy, and not so much towards systematic explanations of the structure of the processes mental.

Brief dynamic psychotherapy theory

This perspective starts from the idea that Therapeutic work should focus on a specific area that generates the greatest difficulties and that further explains the specific problem of the patient. Its main characteristics are its brevity and the high level of definition of the element to be worked on and the objectives to be achieved.

In addition to it a high level of directivity from the therapist is also common and the expression of optimism regarding the improvement of the patient. It seeks to attack the resistances to later work on the anxiety generated by said attack and later make conscious the feelings that these defenses and discomfort have generated.

Within this type of psychotherapy we can find different techniques, such as brief psychotherapy with provocation of anguish or deactivation of the unconscious.

Transfer-based therapy

Proposed by Kernberg, it is a type of therapy of great importance in the treatment of subjects with personality disorders such as borderline. The theory behind it is based on the theory of object relations to propose a model in which there is a focus on both the internal and external world of the patient and that focuses on work from the transfer of internal difficulties to the therapist. In people with severe personality disorders, the experience of frustration and the inability to regulate it, with which finally the psyche becomes split in such a way that there is a diffusion of the identity.

It seeks to promote the integration of the mental structures of patients, reorganizing them and seeking to generate modifications that allow stable mental functioning in which subjective experience, perception and behavior go hand in hand. The context, the therapeutic relationship and the analysis of the object relations are fundamental, analyzing the feelings generated by the relationship with them (including the therapeutic relationship) and the unconscious fantasy that this relationship generates, helping to understand them.

Mentalization-based therapy

Bateman and Fonagy developed a model and a type of therapy based on the concept of mentalization. It is understood as such the ability to interpret actions and reactions own and others based on the existence of emotions and thoughts, recognizing these as a mental state.

With great influence and based largely on Bowlby's attachment theory, tries to explain mental disorder (especially borderline personality disorder) as a consequence of the difficulty in attributing mental states to what they do or feel. Therapy linked to this model seeks congruence, favor the connection between feeling and thought, develop the ability to mentalize and try to understand one's own emotions and those of others, while improving interpersonal relationships.

Bibliographic references:

• Almendro, M.T. (2012). Psychotherapies. CEDE PIR Preparation Manual, 06. CEDE: Madrid.
• Bateman, A. W., & Fonagy, P. (2004). Psychotherapy for Borderline Personality Disorder: Mentalization Based Treatment. Oxford: Oxford University Press.