Psychodynamic Therapy Applications

This unit in psychodynamic psychotherapy builds on and extends psychodynamic skills and knowledge acquired in the introductory psychodynamic therapy unit. The primary goal is to deepen students’ understanding of the psychodynamic therapy process and refine their therapeutic interventions, making them more confident and effective in their psychodynamic work. While some of the unit topics will be the same topics covered in first year units, treatment of these topics will be more detailed, critical, technique oriented, and grounded in students’ own clinic experience. Additionally, this unit also includes new topics and emphases, either not addressed or not covered in previous units. Students will be introduced to the theory and technique of child and adolescent psychodynamic psychotherapy, case formulation and treatment planning. Attachment status and its implications for psychotherapy process and interventions will also be covered.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Exhibit increasing conceptual and technical proficiency in psychodynamic therapy with adults;
2. Propose effective child and adolescent case formulation and treatment planning, and be able to implement this in work with child clients;
3. Exhibit knowledge of attachment status, its clinical features, and its implications for the psychotherapy relationship and process; and
4. Critically reflect on and accurately evaluate the impact of one’s own attitudes, behaviours and interventions on the psychotherapy process and interaction.