Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy (PP) seems to have gotten a ‘Bad Rep,’ so to speak, in the media. Rather than goal-driven and results-based, PP is often portrayed as engaging clients in a chronic process that reaps little benefit. Nothing could be further from the truth when treatment is in the hands of a skilled, highly-trained provider. In actuality, there is quite a bit of research on the efficacy of PP. Across the spectrum of psychological conditions from mild to severe, clients engaged in PP improve, maintain their gains, and continue to improve after treatment has ended. (References available on request.)

Psychodynamic psychotherapy (PP) goes by a number of different titles such as Relational Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. The different names imply a different emphasis in the therapist’s clinical style and theoretical orientation. Dr. Holman takes an integrative approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy, finding that no one facet of human functioning should be focused on at the expense of another. Instead, she views each client as a unique individual with his or her own psychological strengths and areas of vulnerability.

There are significant differences in areas of focus of PP versus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). To summarize, in CBT Dr. Holman will focus on the client’s current life situation and self-defeating thought patterns and beliefs. In psychodynamic psychotherapy the focus is on emotion and its expression. The process involves exploring attempts to avoid distressing feelings and thoughts, as well as identifying recurring patterns of self-defeating behaviors in combination with emotion and cognition. This process results in finding more adaptive ways of feeling, thinking and behaving. The therapy has an interpersonal focus. In effect, an effort is made to understand current patterns of interpersonal relationships and how certain interpersonal themes may be experienced in the past, present and in the therapeutic relationship with Dr. Holman, as well.

CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are not mutually exclusive treatment strategies! In fact, there is substantial research indicating that CBT can be more effective when integrated with aspects of PP (for example, when focusing on emotional expression in combination with thought patterns).

Dr. Holman is highly trained and experienced in both PP and CBT. She often finds integration of two treatment modalities to be even more effective than practicing exclusively with either CBT or PP. However, as with all treatment strategies discussed, these interventions are clinical tools. Which instruments will be most effective for any given client depends on the individual’s needs, goals, and preferences.