Theories of Counselling

Running Head: THEORIES OF COUNSELLING
Theories of counselling
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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THEORIES OF COUNSELLING
Psychodynamic counseling
Introduction
Psychodynamic counseling is a practical technique that counselors, therapists or
psychiatrists use on patients who have mental problems (Wosket, 2016). The basic idea of
psychodynamic counseling is that the human mind harbors unconscious mental processes that
involve thinking and displaying emotions. These mental processes strongly influence the
behavior of humans. The shocking truth is that the affected patient is not always aware about it.
In psychodynamic theory, if a patient engages in abnormal/unhealthy behavior, he/she must first
realize and change the thought processes which are unconscious yet detrimental as they cause
unhealthy behaviors (Howard, 2017). The role of therapists using psychodynamic counseling is
to help patients become aware of the unconscious thought processes which are rooted in conflicts
which are unresolved, past experiences and emotions that cause the patients to harbor mental
problems.
There are several other counseling therapies used to ensure good mental health by
treating mental problems, but psychodynamic counseling stands out in that it is the oldest and
well-known. Despite the therapy being old, it is still being used widely today. It was founded by
Sigmund Freud, also known as the father of psychology. It is flexible, in that it is used to address
several situations such as marriage counseling, individual counseling, drug abuse rehabilitation
programs, and family counseling among others.
Presentation of psychodynamic therapy and its link to theories and concepts
Psychodynamic therapy/counseling states that it is important for a patient to remember
past events and experiences as much as they may be very painful (Spurling, 2017). A patient in a

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THEORIES OF COUNSELLING
rehabilitation center for bhang abuse may have adopted this behavior due to a painful occurrence
such as rape, in his/her past experiences. Recalling these events is therefore a very difficult
process and should be done in an environment that is controlled. When a patient is ready to
work through and conquer behaviors that result from unconscious thought processes,
psychodynamic therapy becomes a very effective tool in overcoming these behaviors. During the
therapy session, a patient is guided by the therapist to recall the painful past experiences, and the
therapist will examine how he/she expresses emotions. Change occurs when the therapist guides
the patient to recall past events, he then examines the current relations with other people, talks
using fantasies and conducts a role-play (Evans, 2018). This way, a patient’s probability of
overcoming hurtful memories and creating a rejuvenated start to better the future is high.
Psychodynamic therapy is based on Sigmund Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis. Other
personalities who are recognized for their contribution in developing the concept of
psychodynamics include Carl Jung who founded the ‘Analytical psychology theory’, Alfred
Adler, who founded the ‘Individual psychology theory’, among others. Sigmund Freud believed
that people behave based on unconscious sex drives, aggressiveness, guilt and defense
mechanisms (Coren, 2016). All these in one combination form the basic concept of
psychoanalytic theory. However, his psychoanalysis therapy was more centered on sexual drive,
in regard to sexual drives and frustrations towards one’s parents. Psychodynamic therapy and
psychoanalytic therapy pose different concepts though they were both founded by Sigmund
Freud.
Psychodynamic therapy brings out the concept that human beings are creatures with
complexities and their behaviors are driven by many factors not just sexual drive and aggression
as it is in psychoanalytic therapy. The main focus of psychodynamic therapy is on the problem