What is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a form of depth psychology, the primary focus of which is to reveal the unconscious content of a client’s psyche in an effort to relieve underlying tension.
Although psychodynamic psychotherapy can take many forms, commonalities include:
- An emphasis on the centrality of intrapsychic and unconscious conflicts, and their relation to development.
- Seeing defenses as developing in internal psychic structures in order to avoid unpleasant consequences of conflict.
- A belief that psychopathology develops especially from early childhood experiences.
- A view that internal representations of experiences are organized around interpersonal relations.
- A conviction that life issues and dynamics will re-emerge in the context of the client-therapist relationship as transference and counter-transference.
- Trust in insight as critically important for success in therapy.
Commonly Addressed Issues
Adoption
Alcohol Abuse
Anger Management
Anxiety
Behavioral Issues
Bipolar Disorder
Career Counseling
Codependency
Eating Disorders
Emotional Disturbance
Family Conflict
Gambling
Grief
Men’s Issues
Obesity
Self Esteem
Sexual Addiction
Spirituality
Substance Abuse
Trauma and PTSD
Weight Loss
Treatment Approach/Orientation
Art Therapy
Coaching
Dialectical (DBT)
Eclectic
Emotionally Focused
Expressive Arts
Family / Marital
Family Systems
Gestalt
Humanistic
Imago
Jungian
Mindfulness-based (MBCT)
Motivational Interviewing
Psychodynamic
Bob Beare’s Personal Approach
I became a psychotherapist after several career turns, but not because of a great concern for helping others. After several decades of trying to avoid my inner demons, the death of my daughter, and the loss of a marriage plunged me into an “Introduction to Psychology” that no university could offer. But I enrolled anyway, and popped out a therapist.
In these years, I have trained extensively in Jungian psychology and the expressive therapies, especially art therapy, psychodrama, and playback theatre. I’ve had the good fortune to work closely with pioneers in these disciplines. These visionaries (and a few rare practicioners who continue to do their own personal transformational work) have led this path of discovery. They have offered a glimpse at what traditional cultures have always known: expression of emotion through creative forms is a necessary part of healthy living, not just an adjunct luxury.
In addition to a career in the professional theatre as an actor/director/composer, and facilitating hundreds of workshops and trainings, my first book The Creative Fire came together after acquiring a small heap of degrees and certifications. Whenever I hit a life challenge, I go back to school! It’s worked out ok for me.
Interestingly, though I started out without that intense need that alot of my colleagues have to help others, I have come to enjoy nothing more in my life than helping folks become more open, empowered, and committed to living boldly. It’s a blast.
I hope to meet you, and perhaps collaborate on further developing your self love project.
Sincerely,
Bob Beare, Ph.D.