Quote:
Originally Posted by ultramar
I'll add that I think many contemporary/modern psychodynamic therapies are not so 'insight-oriented' as psychoanalysis used to be back in the day. In relational psychodynamic therapy (or even if it's not called that) I think the healing is in the *experience* (visceral, deep, not necessarily conscious) of the therapy relationship. So, whereas you may have some light bulb moments when talking about things on a more cognitive/intellectual level, the healing lies in the experience of the therapy itself, not even just how you feel about the therapist or how you relate to them, there's more to it than that, I think, but I'm going around in circles and am not good at explaining this!
|
I believe what you are trying to say is that psychodynamic therapy affects the "right-side" of the brain. The experience of the therapist through transference basically creates new pathways in the brain, which then result in a client's growth and a different way of being. Studies have shown that the "corrective emotional experience" from misattunement with the T (usually over transference) can indeed alter the right brain. This goes on all unconsciously.
However, I would disagree with the lack of focus on "insight." The insight comes from recognizing patterns in our lives that are interfering with life. So the insight can be along the lines of "I'm terrified of being abandoned, so I let my friends walk all over me, which has its roots in my childhood where my father left and I had to cater towards my mother." Something like that. That insight allows for reflection on our behavioral patterns with life outside the T office.
I think it is a combination of both that make this type of therapy so powerful; both right-brain work and left-brain work.
I would also tend to disagree with you regarding the number of sessions per week a client goes. In psychodynamic it is usually 1-2. Ignoring budget, there are reasons a psychodynamic T would asks a client to come 2 times a week; for example, attachment style that T can recognize would make it harder to work 1 time a week, severe symptoms, etc. Some psychodynamic T's may do 3 times a week (M-W-F). Yes, traditional psychoanalysis is 4-5 times a week, but that can be done 2-3 as well. I think T's make judgements about session frequency and need based on the client.
This article gives a great overview for everyone.
www.apsa.org/portals/1/docs/news/jonathanshedlerstudy20100202.pdf