Using Psychodynamic Theories

600 Words2 Pages

Psychodynamic theory is based on the understanding that events from our past have an ongoing relationship with our current behaviours, it is important to work with the client to gain insight and clarity into this. When using psychodynamic theory, the importance of the role of the unconscious mind and its influence on people's behaviours should be at the forefront of the counsellor's practice. Knowing that behaviours are determined by our own past experiences, our genetic inheritance, and what is happening to us right now is another key element of this theory. As a counsellor using this approach, it must be remembered that all of our internal experiences relate to our relationships with other people, that psychological conditions have their …show more content…

During psychodynamic counselling sessions, the therapist or counsellor encourages the client to feel relaxed and promotes an environment where the client is able to discuss concerns freely. A non-directive approach is often used to encourage the expression of feelings and emotions from the client, whereby the counsellor will listen and watch for clues to identify the root cause of the issue. In these sessions, the counsellor may say little, letting the client speak and process their problems, emotions and feelings, and discuss the behaviours that have led them to the counselling sessions. This will enable the counsellor to analyse what the client is saying, and gain information from body language and other non-verbal cues to develop a useful analysis of the client's problems. This will be used to provide the client with support, understanding and guidance, and will empower the client to work towards making positive

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