Psychodynamic therapy
By its very essence it is difficult to define what psychodynamic therapy is, but I will try to illuminate a number of points that characterize many of the psychodynamic approaches.
One of the basic assumptions is that we all have unconscious parts that activate us in different ways. Many times these are the same parts that we find difficult to admit exist in us - urges such as aggression and sexuality or 'difficult' emotions such as jealousy and shame. Giving space to these parts in a regulated way can shed a heavy burden on us.
These unconscious parts, as well as conscious parts of us, are significantly influenced by the experiences we have had during our lives. Many times experiences we went through made us feel emotions we didn't know how to deal with. Therefore, in therapy there is a constant movement between the past, the present and the connection between them is made with an emphasis on the emotional experience. This movement, within a safe and empathetic environment, helps to make a change that frees us to a certain extent and allows us a greater space of choice in our lives.
The therapeutic relationship is an essential part of the change that dynamic therapy offers. Through observing the relationship between the patient and the therapist there is an opportunity to get to know their inner world and understand the nature of the relationship they face. Today there are many approaches that perceive the presence of the therapist as a part that affects the therapeutic encounter. Understanding this effect illuminates other parts of the patient's psyche.
Of course, all these are complex processes and their expression is different for each one. There is no end to the depth and diversity of the processes that take place in the treatment, when the patient is invited to bring any content that comes to his mind to the sessions.