How Thought Focused Treatment Systems Are Inherently Different From Psychoanalytical / Psychodynamic Approaches

In the counseling world today understanding psychodynamic approaches is more crucial than ever in the assessment and treatment of any psychological issue. Psychodynamic approaches such as Individual therapy, analytical therapy and psychoanalysis are similar in many ways but also differ based on the individuals own perception and circumstances. I will discuss the similarities as well difference’s and why these forms of therapy are critical in the assessment and treatment of clients.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered among the most rapid in terms of results obtained. The average number of sessions clients receive is only about 16. CBT is structured, directive, and time-limited in that clients are helped to understand at the very beginning of the therapy process that there will be a point when the formal therapy will end. The ending of the formal therapy is a decision made by the therapist and client. Therefore, CBT is not an open-ended, never-ending process.

Psychoanalytic theory can be applied to client treatment by the suggestion that mental illness was treatable and that talking about problems could bring relief to that person. Psychoanalytic theory can be used to help clients in a way that it could help a victim to develop emotional and behavioral strategies to deal with the trauma they may have encountered.

Cognitive behavioral therapy also known as CBT is a type of mental health counseling (psychotherapy). With CBT, “therapist works to develop warm relationship with the person and has the person carefully consider the evidence for his or her beliefs in order to see errors in his or her thinking” (Richard A. Griggs. Psychology a Concise Introduction. 435) by attending a required number of therapy sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people in knowing when they begin to have negative thoughts about themselves so they can view challenges clearer and fix their problems in a more effective way. CBT focuses on alternating negative thoughts and patterns to affect the changes in behavior. This approach is goal oriented and is an effective treatment

The scientific method of ruling out a rival hypothesis seeks alternative explanations for a finding. It focuses on exploring all possibilities. An unsatisfactory job is done in Scenario C ruling out a rival hypothesis, as the claim declares that the tapping effectively frees Sarah of her depression. However, there may be another reason. Perhaps, it is the fact that Thought Filed Therapy (TFT) deals with not expressing emotional states and thoughts. After all the previous failures Sarah experiences she probably goes in to the treatment with the expectation of this method finally improving her situation.

“Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist best known for developing the theories and techniques of psychoanalysis.” Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis, a method through which an analyst unpacks unconscious conflicts based on the free associations, dreams, and fantasies of the patient.” He is most popular for his theories on child sexuality, libido, and the ego. (Sigmund Freud Biography) He believed that traumatic things that happened in people’s childhoods influenced their behavior and personality as they got older. He believed that traumatic events that happened in childhood had been forgotten and hidden from conscious. He treated his patients by getting them to recall the experience and bring it to consciousness.

Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that was developed by Sigmund Freud and is based upon his theory of personality. Psychoanalytic techniques and processes include free association, resistance, dream interpretation, interpretation and transference. Short-term dynamic therapies are based on psychoanalytic

Both of the approaches were developed by the former psychoanalysts but drawing from different sources. The

Determined to find out the origins of our sexuality and how they develop over the course of human life, Sigmund Freud came up with his psychoanalytic theory in an attempt to explain how a person’s character or personality is formed. He believed that the first five years of a person’s life were essential in shaping one’s personality, and the way that the parent chooses to raise their child in this crucial stage is what determines normal or abnormal development of the personality. The way that a child goes through these stages is essential in shaping their personality as an adult.

As one starts to look at the different models of psychotherapies one must also look at

Also, there are some differences between how the relationship between therapist and client in classical and contemporary psychoanalytic theory. The classical analyst would praise the role of the expert by standing outside the relationship, comments on it, and offers insight-producing interpretations. Whereas, contemporary psychoanalyst involve with the client more than classical analyst. They think that the relationship of the client and therapist would not grow if it detached and nonparticipating. Therefore, contemporary therapists view their emotional communication with clients as a useful way to gain information and create connection (Luborsky et al., 2011). Another difference between classical and contemporary psychoanalytic theory would be that classical theory would focus on the root of the problem which emerge from the past childhood experiences of the unconscious mind of the client whereas for contemporary theory would not only focus on the past experiences of the client but also focus on the present problems of the client. Therefore, the therapeutic relationship would not be productive if they therapist would be in the expert role and not involve in this therapeutic relationship in contemporary psychoanalytic

The main focus of psychodynamic therapy is understanding problems and not changing the problem. This therapy can possible be effective with the use of other theories, as in order to change a problem one needs to be aware of the problems.

uses mental and emotional processes from psychoanalysis. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on improving the patient's life. In therapy, therapist's review emotions to support the knowledge of that person's life. Patients try to use defense mechanisms during therapy such as denying and repression. Unconscious thought influences behavior and once vulnerable or painful feelings are processed, the defense mechanisms reduce or resolve (Leichsenring, 2006).

The psychodynamic therapies stress importance of the unconscious mind, extensive interpretation by the therapist and the role of early childhood experiences in the development of an individual’s problems. Psychoanalysis is Freud’s therapeutic technique for analyzing an individual’s unconscious thoughts. Freud believed that a person’s current problems can be traced to childhood experiences (King, 2013).

The main propositions and components of Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory are that an adult’s personality is largely determined by their experiences during childhood and that people are