Psychodynamic psychotherapy is the practice of psychotherapy using the concepts and techniques of psychoanalysis, a very robust subfield of psychology and psychiatry that has gone through many evolutions over the last century.  Sometimes psychodynamic psychotherapy is also referred to as psychoanalytic psychotherapy.  Research has shown psychodynamic psychotherapy to be as or more effective than other forms of therapy for a wide range of concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression, personality disorders, eating disorders, complex grief, and trauma-based disorders) and to have long-lasting effects (e.g., Shedler, 2010; Leichsenring & Klein, 2014). 

In psychodynamic psychotherapy, the person is encouraged to try to put everything into words, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant.  In doing so, people gain insight into their concerns, whether those are recurring relationship problems, self-esteem issues, depression, anxiety, or the effects of trauma.  While this may seem simple, it can be quite emotionally challenging to express and understand oneself.  Because of this, the relationship between the psychotherapist and the patient is considered crucial to the process.  Also, because psychoanalysis considers each person to be unique, multifaceted, and necessarily embedded in their culture and social life, the therapy process by definition has a special life of its own for each person.  Psychodynamic psychotherapy aims to help people address their presenting concerns and live more fully, whatever that may mean to them.  In this sense, psychodynamic psychotherapy is for the whole person, not just symptoms. 

As your psychotherapist, my main task is to listen to you and help you clarify your thoughts and feelings, no matter how angry, painful, frightening, or embarrassing.  In doing so, patterns emerge and eventually provide an opportunity for awareness of what change is possible.  Change varies significantly from person to person.  Sometimes, change looks like coming to live more harmoniously with unpleasant internal experiences, like certain feelings, thoughts, and memories.  Other times, change involves trying something new, like moving past an old behavior that has worn out its use or changing one’s approach to relationships.  Frequently, change involves some combination of these things.  While I do provide input and help you examine your progress, your own evaluation is the most important thing, and my role is to help facilitate what you are working toward. 

References

Leichsenring, F., & Klein, S. (2014). Evidence for psychodynamic psychotherapy in specific mental disorders: a systematic review. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, 28(1), 4-32.

Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98-109.