Psychoanalysis theory reflects on opening up an individual’s historical background and removing any present symptoms by sharing it with a psychoanalytical therapist. The psychodynamic theory involves exploring human development, mental disorders and therapy. In this paper, the aspects discussed are the psychodynamic approach regarding my therapeutic relationship with Nicole, issues to focus on regarding Nicole, techniques to help Nicole and goals and the counselling process. Furthermore, the purpose of a defense mechanism, how a counsellor will address it and the difference between post-analytical approaches from Freud’s original ideas.
The psychodynamic approach in my therapeutic relationship with Nicole would be interactive. As a psychodynamic therapist, I would establish a therapeutic relationship by using a ‘talking cure’ to communicate her struggles and weaknesses more deeply (Fulmer, 2018). The issues to focus on about Nicole are her life transitions and the development tasks that help her face the challenges and changes she has gone through (American & Lichtenberg, 1999). About her life transitions, I would use the psychoanalysis approach to know her memories and past life experiences of how she transitioned in life.
The technique I would use to help Nicole are hypnosis, dream analysis and free association. Hypnosis is the act of ensuring an individual is relaxed to improve concentration levels. Hypnosis would help Nicole to fully concentrate during therapy and be able to learn how she can overcome anxiety. Dream analysis involves interpreting what dreams Nicole experiences while she is asleep and explaining what they mean to her. Free association is a psychoanalytical approach I will use to help Nicole freely share thoughts or anything that comes to her mind (Cott, 2017).
The goals of counselling include ego self-knowledge and ego strength. Ego self-knowledge entails the return of the ego to the rightful place where it belongs and the transforming of unconscious material into preconscious material (Cott, 2017). The process of counselling entails observing symptomatic behaviours and childhood developments. Keeping symptomatic behaviour helps identify repetitive behaviours that hinder the development and growth of an individual. Monitoring childhood development helps to analyze the different stages an individual has to go through while being a minor.
The purpose of a defense mechanism is self-preservation and is addressed through ‘talking cure’. By self-preservation, I mean that a client with a counsellor needs to undergo repression, introjection and projection, which helps to find out the internal problems of an individual (Cott, 2017). The defense mechanism can be addressed through the ‘talking cure’, which helps an individual talk about strengths, weaknesses and memories. It will help identify the issue and have a clear perspective and solution.
The difference between post-analytical approaches from Freud’s original ideas emphasizes the study of the relationship that differs from Freud’s theory. The analytical techniques used today involve analyzing an individual’s relationship with their environment and not focusing on the internal analysis of the individual client (Cott, 2017). Furthermore, off-shoot approaches have been developed with different branches of psychoanalysis techniques.
In this paper, the aspects discussed are the psychodynamic approach regarding my therapeutic relationship with Nicole, issues to focus on regarding Nicole, techniques to help Nicole and goals and counselling process. Furthermore, the purpose of a defense mechanism, how a counsellor will address it and the difference between post-analytical approaches from Freud’s original ideas. Counsellors should practice psychoanalysis and psychodynamic schemes to help individuals during therapy sessions.
References
American Psychological Association, & Lichtenberg, J. W. (1999). Archival description of counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 27, 589–592.
Cott, R. (2017). Psychoanalysis: Breaking New Ground. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=e8ab2afef3&attid=0.3&permmsgid=msg-f:1757054884603390669&th=1862501bb7a66acd&view=att&disp=inline&realattid=f_ldsbdrv02
Fulmer, R. (2018). The evolution of the psychodynamic approach and system. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 10(3), 1. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7baf/d677bdb3a9a4f902b6d588a3f6bdc4edd36a.pdf
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