THERAPEUTIC
TUTORIALS
27.5.2021
P S YC H O DY NA M I C
A P P ROA C H
PSYCHODYNAMICS
• systematic study of the psychological forces that underlie human behavior, feelings, and
emotions and how they might relate to unconscious psychological processes and childhood
experiences
• Key figures: Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung…
• illustrate on the manifestations of defense mechanisms, free association, dream analysis, inner
conflicts, etc.
PSYCHOANALYTIC VS. PSYCHODYNAMIC
P S Y C H OA N A LY T I C
P S Y C H O DY N A M I C
• Classic Freudian
• Neo-Freudian (Jung, Adler, Horney…)
• Influenced by libido, childhood
experiences, sexuality…
• Deemphasized sexuality and valued social
environment
• Id, Ego, Superego
• Feelings of inferiority during childhood
• Dream analysis to work on
unconsciousness
• Considered impact of external world and
its influences to unconsciousness
PSYCHODYNAMIC
PSYCHOTHERAPY
• to reveal the unconscious content of a client's psyche in an effort to alleviate psychic tension
• centered on the concept that some maladaptive functioning is presented, wholly or partly
unconsciously, developed early in life and eventually causes difficulties in daily lives
• focus on revealing and resolving these unconscious conflicts that are driving their symptoms
Common self-defense mechanisms
e.g. someone is scolded by boss
Denial
“Everything is fine! No one scolded me at all!”
Displacement
To spouse/kids, “how dare you! (spank)....”
Identification
“This is what boss normally does! It’s fine!” (Stockholm syndrome)
Projection
Rationalization
Boss, “he hates me anyway”
“It cannot meet the target, and boss scolded me to warn the others”
Reaction formation Sending love letter to boss afterwards
Regression
Behaving childish and relying on others
Repression
Keep the hatred within the mind
Sublimation
Write a song expressing his anger and feeling of unjust
RATIONALE & PROCESSES
• To facilitate client’s insight towards his/her internal conflict
• To facilitate conducting a therapeutic split and reflect on experiences
• Counsellor remained neutral and positive curious to client’s situation, remaining an analytic
attitude
SKILLS
FREE ASSOCIATION
Client is encouraged to verbalize or write all thoughts that
come to mind in raw, without deep thoughts
Free association is not a linear thought pattern, but random,
jumpy and sometimes disorganized
Facilitate the reveals of the covered associations and
connections , and even repressed memories and emotions ,
commonly known as Freudian slips
Therapist is suggested to let client’s words out freely, but able
to identify the interrelations among scenes and the in-depth
depiction.
FREE ASSOCIATION
Usually helpful to discover…
Transference: unwittingly transferring feelings about one person to become
applied to another person
Resistance:
holding a mental block against remembering or
accepting some events or ideas
Projection:
projecting internal feelings or motives, instead
ascribing them to other things or people
THERAPEUTIC
LISTENING
Evenly hovering attention, means having no defaults
in topics and themes to attend
Empathetic listening, positing yourself in client’s
situation, and constructing a working model to face
the situation like your client
INTERPRETIVE PROCESS
INTERPRETIVE PROCESS
Working through
Confrontation
pointing out certain
patterns and
wordings
repeating, drill with depth
and further unveiling the
triangles to enhance
insights
Clarification
Facilitate client to
discover and clarify
his experiences
Interpretation
Unveiling the discovered
unconsciousness, like wish
and defense
PERSON-CENTRED
A PPROA CH
PERSON-CENTRED APPROACH
• humanistic approach that deals with the ways in which individuals perceive themselves
consciously, rather than how a counsellor can interpret their unconscious thoughts or ideas
• Key figures: Carl Rogers
• ultimately sees human beings as having an innate tendency to develop towards their full
potential. However, this ability can become blocked or distorted by certain life experiences,
particularly those experiences which affect our sense of value
help the client to reconnect with their inner values and
sense of self-worth, thus enabling them to find their own
way to move forward and progress
PERSON-CENTRED
COUNSELLING
• to facilitate our ability to self-actualize - the belief that all of us will grow and fulfil our
potential.
• This approach facilitates the personal growth and relationships of a client by allowing them to
explore and utilize their own strengths and personal identity.
• The counsellor aids this process, providing vital support to the client and they make their way
through this journey.
3 CORE
CONDITIONS
TO E N A B L E A P S Y C H O L O G I C A L E N V I RO N M E N T
T H AT A P E R S O N F E E L S B O T H P H Y S I C A L LY A N D
E M O T I O N A L LY F R E E F R O M T H R E AT
CONGRUENCE
counsellor must be completely genuine
EMPATHY
counsellor must strive
to understand the
client’s
experience
counsellor must be non-judgemental and valuing
UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE
REGARD
“When you are in
psychological distress and
someone really hears you
without passing judgement
on you, without trying to
take responsibility for you,
without trying to mold you,
it feels damn good!”
-Carl Rogers
OTHER TIPS
• Time to show what you have learnt from skill-lab!
• Person-centred approach isn’t technique-oriented
• Remember, client knows best!
• Negative emotions are normal and acceptable
• Concentrate on what is client really saying
• Again, this is an approach focused on here-and-now!