Psychodybamic Counseling

Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Bowlby, 1969). Likewise, attachment theory is a psychological model that seeks to illustrate the dynamics of both long term and short- term interpersonal relationships (Waters, E.; Corcoran, D.; Anafarta, M. 2005). Additionally, attachment theory address how people respond within relationships when hurt, separated from loved ones, or when they perceive a threat (Waters et al., 2005). Attachment theory is the combined work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth (Bretherton, I. 1992, p. 1). The theory predominantly draws on the ideas from doctrines such as, ethology, cybernetics, information processing and developmental psychology (Bretherton, I. 1992, p. 1). It is considered that attachment theory has revolutionized the way society thinks about the relationship between the mother and her child and the importance of

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (PP) rooted from traditional psychoanalysis theories. PP operates with the basic assumption that focuses on unconscious processes that recognise how a person’s behaviour and feelings in the present are rooted from childhood experience in the past. The objective of PP is to facilitate client to reach self-awareness and to have a better understanding of the problems by identifying where the origin of the issue as well as underlying causes that may be present. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy places heavy emphasis on client’s relationships and interpersonal experience (Shedler, 2010).

Attachment, according to Emde (1982) is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another, across time and space. John Bowlby, and Evolutionist, believed that attachment was pre-programmed. In order for us to survive as a species, we needed to attach to a significant other; that its innate in us to single out a few specific individuals around us and attach to them, an so providing a survival advantage. Bowlby rationalised that the attachment between a mother and infant was unlike any other bond; very unlike the bond an infant would develop with another human. He coined it ‘Monotrophy’.

Fraley (2002) completed a meta analysis of studies concerning attachment in order to investigate the level of attachment pattern’s continuity throughout life. The study indicated that there was a certain stability of the attachment pattern, and that the stability is independent of time. Even though it is theorized that a secure pattern will be likely to stay unchanged, it is still indicated that experiences such as bad relationships will be able to change the attachment pattern (Fraley,

This essay aims to identify and evaluate the psychodynamic approach to counselling. It begins with defining psychodynamic therapy and will explore what impact society has on an individual whilst defining the underlying principles and hypothesis of this approach. This essay will explore an understanding of a range of psychoanalytical theories and approaches in counselling whilst focusing on the self-expression method of art therapy. This essay will examine the importance of ethical behaviour and the appropriate training and supervision that is imbedded within psychodynamic counselling. Additionally within this essay it will consider the favourable and adverse concepts of the therapeutic techniques of psychodynamic approach that is used to date.

The article Empirical and Clinical Aspects of attachment theory, goes in-depth about the attachment theory. This article really

Attachment theory is understood by a deep bond that connects one person to another. Attachment is characterized by specific behaviuors in children, such as seeking aid from the attachment figure when feeling apprehensive or fearful. Attachment theory originated with the work of John Bowlby (1958). Working in a child guidance clinic in London led him to consider the importance of a child’s relationship with their mothers. John Bowlby working along side James Robertson (1952) revealed children experience intense anxiety and stress when separated from their mother.

Attachment theory is an area of psychology that describes the nature of emotional attachment between humans. It begins with the our attachment as a child with our parents. The nature of this attachment, and how well it’s prod casted and cared for, determines the way we become attached to our romantic partners later in life. Attachment theory had begun in the 1950's. The way our attachments are with our relationships have a good reasoning as to why many have failed or have succeeded and have ended or started throughout our lives.

However, the major function of attachment theory is to guide further research (Attachments and other affectional bonds across the life cycle, Mary D. Salter Ainsworth, 1991, p. 48)

“Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space’’

Counseling is a therapy that involves communication using a variety of methods. Verbal, nonverbal, and written are some of the ways to communicate during counseling. Counseling allows a person to share their feelings, thoughts and problems to another (a counselor) in a dependable and confidential environment. Normally the counselor empathizes with the clients. Many types of counseling are evident depending on the type of problem one has. Counseling usually involves the psychology, therefore, can be termed as psychological therapy. One of the psychological therapies is behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy involves behaviors and cognitions. Apparently, cognitive and behavioral therapies are based on the thinking of the individual and on the way the individuals behave. Cognitive and behavioral therapies are of importance and that is the area of my specialization.

Counseling is within the reach of anyone in today’s society. The fields of mental health and community counseling allow services to be rendered to anyone that may need these services while in the past these service were only accessible for a person of a higher social standing in essence the rich. Mental health and community counseling had its beginnings several centuries ago. The services received from mental health and community counseling have helped those with personality development and emotional problems that are unable to pay for services in private practice and therefore if not for these services these clients

John Bowlby designed the Attachment Theory to explain the bond between a child and people serving in the caregiver role (Feldman, 2011). In 1987, Cindy Hazan and Philip Shaver applied Bowlby’s views on attachment to include the bonds between adults and their romantic partners (Nudson-martin, 2012). Hazan and Shaver viewed attachment in adult romantic

Attachment theory was developed by psychoanalyst John Bowlby in the 1950s to focus on the bond formed between a mother and child; this first relationship is critical in determining a child’s developmental outcome and it is indicative of the child’s future relationships (Brooks, 2013). A parent and child can develop a secure attachment or fall into one of three insecure attachment styles: anxious-avoidant attachments, anxious-resistant attachments, and disorganized/disoriented attachments. Children with secure attachments seem happy and secure around the parent, and become distressed when they leave often seeking out their parents. With anxious-avoidant attachments child finds parent over stimulating thus uninterested when the parent leaves

This study focused on the Attachment theory in which it is stated how attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Ainsworth, 1973; Bowlby, 1969).