​​Straight Up Psychology

David Fillmore   Registered Psychologist

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is one of the oldest theories of psychology. It focuses on the influence of unresolved and generally unconscious thought processes, developed early in life, on a person’s current behaviour. ​

Psychodynamic therapy is based on the view that our unconscious holds onto painful feelings, memories and experiences, which are too difficult for the conscious mind to process. In order to prevent these memories and experiences from surfacing, many people will develop defence mechanisms, such as denial or repression, which can often do more harm than good.

The aim of psychodynamic therapy is to bring the unconscious mind into consciousness - helping individuals to uncover the deeper and often unconscious motivations affecting their feelings and behaviour, in order to resolve them.

Therapists help people review thoughts and emotions, early-life experiences and beliefs in order to gain insight into their lives and to evaluate the patterns they may have developed over time as methods of coping and avoiding distress. Recognising patterns helps people gain a self-awareness and understanding of how these past unresolved issues influence their present-day problems and they can take steps to change them. Once painful feelings are processed the defence mechanisms reduce or resolve.

Psychodynamic therapy is effective for a wide range of mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic and stress-related physical ailments. Successful treatment should not only alleviate symptoms, it should also help people to lead healthier lives with heightened enjoyment of life, including the ability to have more fulfilling relationships, greater self-esteem and richer experiences in careers and daily life and the ability to respond in a more satisfying way to life's challenges and opportunities, with the benefits of the therapy continuing to grow after treatment has ended.