PSYCHOTHERAPY APPROACHES

Comparing and Contrasting Between Psychodynamic Approach and Systemic Counselling Approach

Comparing and Contrasting Between Psychodynamic Approach and Systemic Counselling Approach

Introduction

Psychotherapy is a term that encompasses the therapeutic treatment that is provided by a trained practitioner to an individual or a group. The treatment is provided to patients who are suffering from some psychological problem. These problems vary in their origin, treatment and are largely dependent on the skill, expertise and knowledge of the counsellor in the domain for their successful treatment. Due to practitioners belonging to various professional backgrounds, there have been many systems that have been proposed to offer help to patients suffering from psychological problems. This paper will be discussing Psychodynamic and Systemic approach to psychotherapy. The two approaches will be contrasted and compared in light of their theory and application in various scenarios.

Psychodynamic was first developed by Sigmund Freud and Melanie Klien. Psychodynamic therapy utilizes various therapeutic approaches to make the patients reveal their hidden feelings and desires, in order to develop an understanding of their psychological state. It is based on the assumption that all human beings have an unconscious mind, where repressed feelings and desires are stored. These feelings are generally painful to human beings so they become defences when counsellors try to break through them. It is based on the exploration of the unconscious with the free association; the principle is the lifting of repressions pathogens (Eagle 2010, pp. 11-20). Counselling begins with a diagnostic interview, in which the practical psychologist diagnoses not only problems but personality (mental status, personality traits, and mental processes).

A very important branch of psychotherapy is family therapy. It deals with the psychological problems that arise within members of a family and couple. Usually, people may face problems within their family and other intimate relations. To deal with such problems, family therapy is used. Family therapy is based on the idea that family is something which has its own unique characteristics, social system, structure and ways of communication (Rivett 2009, pp. 8-15). Systemic counselling comprises of a number of theories and methods aimed to resolve psychological issues which involve interactions designed to uncover the bottlenecks in developing long term and healthy relationships.

Systemic counselling takes a different approach from psychodynamics by addressing people as an interconnected with their environment rather than as mere individuals. This type of therapy is usually administered on more than one individual involved in the problem. In psychological terms, this is called family therapy. However, systemic therapy can be used on individuals to offer solutions by analysing their environment and relationships. It is based on a universally valid model that incorporates common laws and generalized set of assumptions so as to resolve a number of psychological problems (Dallos 2000, pp. 12-15).

Discussion and Analysis

A number of therapies are a part of psychotherapy. Two of such methods that are widely used are psychodynamic therapy and systemic counselling approach. Let us consider each of them in detail.

First of all, one should have a clear ...