As a psychotherapist, I often hear clients say, “I just don’t understand why I keep doing this,” or “I feel stuck, even though I’ve tried everything.” These sentiments echo a deeper truth: much of our emotional life—and many of our struggles—are shaped by forces outside of our immediate awareness.
This is where psychodynamic therapy offers something uniquely powerful.
What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy is rooted in the idea that our early relationships and experiences shape how we see ourselves, others, and the world. It emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind—those thoughts, feelings, and memories we may not be fully aware of, yet which influence our present behavior and emotional responses.
Unlike some approaches that focus primarily on symptom relief, psychodynamic therapy seeks deeper understanding. It’s a process of uncovering and making meaning of the inner narratives that quietly guide our lives. With that insight comes not just symptom reduction, but long-lasting change.
The Core Principles
Here are a few key elements of psychodynamic therapy:
Unconscious Processes: Many of our reactions stem from unresolved emotional conflicts or patterns developed early in life. By making the unconscious conscious, we can begin to shift long-standing behaviors.
Past Influences on the Present: We often re-enact old dynamics in current relationships, including the therapeutic relationship. This “repetition” can be a doorway to healing when explored thoughtfully.
Defense Mechanisms: These are ways we protect ourselves from emotional pain—like denial, projection, or avoidance. In therapy, we gently explore how these defenses show up and whether they’re still serving us.
The Therapeutic Relationship: The relationship between therapist and client is central. It provides a safe, non-judgmental space where patterns can emerge, be noticed, and ultimately healed.
In our next blog post, we will examine what a Psychodynamic session actually looks like. As well as who might benefit the most from Psychodynamic Therapy.