Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Approach in Toronto

Psychodynamic Approach to Therapy

If you’ve been experiencing depression, anxiety, or serious mental health concerns, you may be ready to look for some help. There are so many types of therapy, however, that determining what will be the best fit for you can be complex. PRS Toronto offers some insight into what the different therapeutic specialties mean so that you can find the one that may best suit your needs.

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy (sometimes referred to as depth or psychoanalytic psychotherapy) is similar to psychoanalysis in that you and your therapist spend a lot of time talking – it’s actually a form of talk therapy. The biggest difference between the two disciplines is that psychodynamic therapy carefully considers how you relate to your world as well as to your therapist.  

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Psychodynamic therapists work with individuals. Some of our therapists provide psychodynamic family therapy. Through this work we can look for how to best help individuals thrive in their world.

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Who Does Psychodynamic Therapy Help?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy can be very beneficial for people who are experiencing deep, pervasive difficulties in their life. If you are looking for psychodynamic therapy in the GTA for anxiety, depression, P.T.S.D. and more, our therapists are here to help.

Psychodynamic therapy is often appropriate for those with significant mental health concerns, like:  

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The Stages of Psychodynamic Therapy

In general, a therapist following a psychodynamic approach will follow three specific stages as part of a treatment plan:  

During this phase, the client and the therapist need to get to know one another. Trust must be established so that the client feels willing to share deep, personal information with the therapist. At the same time, the therapist needs to gain a baseline understanding of the individual; why they are looking for therapy, what factors are influencing their desire for treatment, and so forth.  

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This is where the real work of therapy tends to happen. The psychodynamic approach teaches that current behaviour is rooted in the past, so the therapist and the client will spend time examining how the client was affected by, and reacted to, past situations, and how that might be influencing their behaviour now. There is sometimes resistance to treatment and to change during this phase, which the therapist needs to help the client work through.  

Unlike some therapies, psychodynamic therapy teaches that there is a natural end to when someone needs treatment. The client is experiencing wider options in their life choices and their behaviour is no longer so unconsciously rooted in the past.  

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