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Chapter 6 - The Goals of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

from Part 2: - The Model of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy into Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2023

Adam Polnay ,
Rhiannon Pugh ,
Victoria Barker ,
David Bell ,
Allan Beveridge ,
Adam Burley ,
Allyson Lumsden ,
C. Susan Mizen  and
Lauren Wilson
Foreword by
Nancy McWilliams
Adam Polnay
Affiliation:
The State Hospital, Carstairs and Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
Victoria Barker
Affiliation:
East London NHS Foundation Trust, London
David Bell
Affiliation:
British Psychoanalytic Society
Allan Beveridge
Affiliation:
Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Adam Burley
Affiliation:
Rivers Centre, Edinburgh
Allyson Lumsden
Affiliation:
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
C. Susan Mizen
Affiliation:
Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter
Lauren Wilson
Affiliation:
Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
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Summary

This chapter commences with a brief description of the complexities conceptualising goals in psychodynamic psychotherapy as they differ across different schools. In addition, some goals are inferred rather than being explicit. Nonetheless, the author goes on to delineate goals which are relevant to early, middle, and end stages of a course of psychodynamic therapy. These include promotion of a positive alliance, a description of ‘common factors’ in therapy, and also some relevant technical goals. Final stage goals consist of management of the ending and enabling the ability to mourn the lost good object of the therapist. An alternative framework to conceptualising goals is presented in terms of symptom relief, life adjustment, personality change, and use of relevant procedures as being necessary. Clinical vignettes are used to illustrate these concepts. Finally, there is a brief section on current contributions from neuroscience specifically related to psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Keywords

psychodynamic goalscommon factorstherapeutic alliancestructural personality changesymptom relief
Type
Chapter
Information
Cambridge Guide to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy , pp. 89 - 97
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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References

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