Psychodynamic

Psychodynamic

Psychodynamic (focused on the unconscious) approaches to therapy encompass a focus on better understanding oneself and examining inner conflicts as a way to alleviate distress and improve relationships and other aspects of one’s life. A therapist using a psychodynamic approach may draw connections between a patient’s current feelings and past experience and will identify common patterns in one’s thoughts, experiences, or relationships—including similarities between the therapist-patient relationship and relationships outside therapy. Psychodynamic therapy has its roots in traditional psychoanalysis, but modern evidence suggests it can be effective in treating depression, anxiety, and other conditions.