[Monty_girl]

I was just wondering if there is anyone else here who's main therapy is Psychodynamic? Seen a lot of CBT & DBT, but was just wondering if anyone else is doing the same type of therapy I'm doing. Kind of feeling alone out here with the type of therapy that works for me.

[Mouse_]

Yup I'm in that kind of therapy too.

My therapist is humanistic/psychodynamic.

I'm glad I chose him as my therapist....CBT seems really "practical" to me, but I feel like this therapy is getting to the really deep wounds, and maybe, MAYBE will help heal them someday.

[sunrise]

Hi Monty_Girl, my therapist is family systems/humanistic with a bit of psychodynamic. For me, this approach seems a perfect fit. My previous therapist was CBT and that approach didn't work well for me. For me, CBT wasn't healing, and didn't really get to the root of my problems. However, I am in the process of seeking out a family therapist for me and my daughter, and I would be open to a CBT person, as I want a very practical and solutions-focused approach and want the therapy to be brief.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Kind of feeling alone out here with the type of therapy that works for me.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">I think you'll find a mix of therapy types here, so feel free to just chime in. I think most people here are tolerant of other therapy types than their own, although sometimes I still see judgmental comments from people not familiar with the humanist approach, such as "therapists aren't supposed to self-disclose" and "therapists are supposed to be blank slates", etc. But in general people here are supportive, pretty well-informed, and realize that their therapist's approach is not the only effective one out there.

Why does psychodynamic work well for you?

[lauren_helene]

My therapist is CBT but he's been using a mix of things. Mostly psychodynamic and once he had me read some existential books.

He dropped the CBT pretty quickly actually...after a few weeks of being there.

Also, I think many T's have various styles they use. I know my couples counselor states about four of them.

I try not to focus on the technique he uses...just adds to my obsessive nature!

[Kiya]

I had started with EMDR but it only caused more trauma. I was so not ready for that. Now I am in the same kind you are Monty and it does work well. I have a hard time with trust and connecting in a real way with people, so this is teaching me how to do those things and learning to let me be cared for - learning that I might be a good and valuable person... and that i didn't even have to earn it. My t does both CBT and EMDR but has seen that I am not in a place where I can do those.
Kiya

[SpottedOwl]

Hi Monty Girl,

You are not alone. My T is humanistic, with some gestalt and a psychodynamic approach. For me, it has been a great fit. I know CBT can be great for some people, but it honestly would drive me nuts.

Sometimes I worry about how people on here might respond, because my sessions with T will sometimes run over, or he'll give me a hug if I need it...all things I read are not encouraged in certain styles of therapy. (But, those were just fears -- everyone in this community has been wonderful.)

I'd love to hear more about your therapy, and why it works well for you. If it helps you, that is really all that is important, IMHO.

[MissCharlotte]

My therapy is also psychodynamic/psychoanalytical.

It works for me too!

[emilyjeanne]

My T/Pdoc does psychoanalytic but doesn't do that approach with me because of my trauma history. So it is psychodynamic.

[chaotic13]

I really have no idea... psychodynamic at the moment I guess.

I think we started out more CBT/family systems. But now we seem to be spending a lot of time in my past. I guess I'm the one keeping us there at the moment...but she definitely lead me back there.

[Rapunzel]

Mine is primarily psychodynamic, but uses other stuff too. I see CBT and some other methods as tools, but I don't think I would ever really recover without going deeper than that.

[coconut64]

Does anyone know if psychodynamic is the same as psychoanalytic?

Also does anyone know how to connect to a T who is psychoanalytic...who never shares how he thinks or feels and who presents himself with a blank face????? Help!!!

[pachyderm]

I think psychoanalytic is a particular form of psychodynamic, following the theories of Freud on what it all means, though nowadays that allegiance to Freud may not be as strong as it once was.

[ECHOES]

types of therapy

[sunrise]

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coconut64 said:
Also does anyone know how to connect to a T who is psychoanalytic...who never shares how he thinks or feels and who presents himself with a blank face????? Help!!!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">I think this would be a fantastic question for your therapist. I also believe the larger share of the responsibility for connecting is with the therapist. They are the ones who are experts at developing therapeutic relationships. The client should not have take the lead on this, especially early in the relationship, as they don't have the experience and skills. It is also good to share your thoughts on connection with the therapist. Maybe this therapist believes the two of you are connecting. Or maybe this therapist doesn't place high value on connecting. (I don't think it was important at all to my first therapist.) It would be good to know which of these things is going on.