Chapter 1. Psychodynamic and Humanistic Therapies

Short Description

With hundreds of types of psychotherapy in practice today, one might wonder where the concept of therapy originated.

Long Description

This program focuses on two of the earliest forms of psychotherapy—psychodynamic therapy and humanistic therapy—and how these therapeutic models provided the basis for the entire field of individual psychotherapy.

People seek therapy for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms of psychological ailments. Successful therapy, therefore, depends on selecting the right type of therapy needed to unveil and treat the underlying causes of the symptoms an individual is experiencing.

The goal of psychodynamic therapy is to help clients become aware of the thoughts and feelings that have been forced into the depths of their unconscious minds. This goal is achieved using various methods including dream analysis, transference and resistance, and free association. A distinct feature of Freudian psychoanalysis, as Louis Cozolino points out, is the physical positioning of the psychologist and his client during therapy. Instead of sitting across from his client, Freud would sit behind his client in a chair while his client would lie on a sofa or couch.

Humanistic therapy, sometimes called "the Third Force," emerged in the 1950's as a reaction to the pessimistic nature of psychoanalysis. Humanistic psychology assumes that people are innately good and seeks to help them reach their potential by acquiring a healthy sense of self. Humanistic therapists adopt a holistic approach and interact with their clients in a positive manner using eye contact and engaged dialogue. The program closes with Cozolino stating that "people need to have meaning in their lives—or their lives have to have meaning—and so this whole search for meaning I think is sort of key with humanistic therapy.

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