Psychodynamic vs. CBT: Counselling Theories and Techniques Analysis

This essay provides a comparative analysis of two prominent counselling theories: psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The paper begins by defining psychodynamic therapy, emphasizing its focus on the unconscious mind, past experiences, and unresolved conflicts as drivers of behavior, rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud and his successors. The essay highlights the role of the therapist in helping patients become aware of these unconscious processes. It then transitions to CBT, explaining its emphasis on identifying and modifying negative thoughts and feelings to change behavior, focusing on the present rather than the past. The essay outlines the strengths and weaknesses of each therapy, including the broad applicability of psychodynamic therapy versus the structured, short-term nature of CBT. The paper concludes by summarizing the core principles of both therapies and emphasizing their respective roles in addressing various mental health issues. The essay underscores how both approaches contribute to the understanding and treatment of mental health disorders.

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

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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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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

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and developing personal motivation and insight to change. The only similarity between
psychodynamic and psychoanalysis therapies by Sigmund Freud is that both assume there exists
unconscious thought processes that influence behavior in human beings.
Reasons behind the choice of psychodynamic therapy
It can be used to treat a wide range of mental problems in different patients. However,
there are a few mental problems in which treatment using this therapy is more effective. They
include addiction to drug and other substances, anxiety and depression.
Another reason is the type of patient, based on their inward personality and levels of
perceived benefits to this treatment (Wosket, 2016). There are specific patients who are more
receptive to this treatment. They tend to benefit more than others on the same treatment. These
are the type of patients who have a natural and genuine capacity to explore and meditate on
themselves. They are motivated in seeking self-knowledge as well as getting better and being
relieved off symptoms of mental problem and unhealthy behavior.
Strengths and weaknesses of psychodynamic therapy
To justify the use of psychodynamic therapy to solve mental problems, looking at its
strengths and weaknesses is important. In terms of its strengths, psychodynamic therapy
carefully integrates the past experiences to provide solutions for the current unhealthy behavior.
Secondly, it helps a patient recognize the subconscious thoughts and how they affect behavior.
For instance, a patient might record feeling lonely and sad when he/she has not taken alcohol, but
happy and ‘off to the moon’ when he/she sips a few glasses of alcohol. When the therapist
provokes the unconscious element in the patient’s mind, it might be due to the fact that the
patient links alcohol to the love of his mother. Another strength is that psychodynamic therapy

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encourages individuals to go for more therapy and therefore makes the healing process complete.
Patients who have undergone this therapy report feeling better, rejuvenated and healed. This is a
motivation for going back there to seek more of that listening ear that is non-judgmental
(Howard, 2017).
As much as psychodynamic therapy poses great help and strength to rise up again for
patients who feel that life is meaningless, it also comes along with a few limitations. First, it fails
to regard biological aspects that influence behavior and mental problems such as genetic
predisposition. Secondly, most medical insurance providers do not cover it. Finally, it is hard for
an average person to believe this tale about the subconscious influencing behavior.
Conclusion
Generally, psychodynamic therapy focuses on the unconscious mind and the role it plays
in behavior adoption. From childhood to adulthood, psychodynamic theories show how they can
model the personality and life of an individual. The strengths and limitations of psychodynamic
therapy should be analyzed carefully before commencing on treatment to ensure effective
treatment and healing.

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Cognitive behavioral therapy
Introduction
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a treatment technique that helps to deal with
negative thoughts and feelings that sabotage appropriate behavior (Dobson and Dozois, 2019).
Several mental health disorders can be treated using CBT. These include depression, anxiety,
addiction to drugs and other substances among others. CBT goes for a short period and generally
aids a patient to overcome a specific mental problem. Patients go through therapy sessions with
the therapist where they learn how to spot and alter negative thoughts and feelings for positive
behavior change. The main goal of CBT is to show patients that they may not be able to control
every aspect in the world, or every activity that happens in the world, but they control their
perception and ideas of how specific things and occurrences happen (Linehan, 2018).
In the recent years, CBT has become popular and more effective as it only goes for a
short period so it is more affordable than other mental wellness therapies. Additionally, CBT
helps patients to conquer a wide range of mental problems. There are a number of therapies that
use the basic principle of CBT. They include rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT),
dialectical behavior therapy (DPT), and multimodal therapy among others (Dobson, 2018). Each
of these therapies is aimed at uncovering the thought patterns that cause mental health problems.
Presentation of Cognitive Behavioral therapy
The cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients to integrate complex problems into
smaller parts and solve them in a positive manner. A therapist will show a patient how to change
these negative thoughts and feelings to influence hoe he/she feels. Unlike the psychodynamic
therapy, the cognitive behavioral therapy does not deal with events from the past; rather, it helps

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the patient deal with problems from the present (Hofmann and Otto, 2017). On a daily scenario,
the cognitive behavioral therapy assists the patient to look for practical ways to alleviate the
negative thought processes and feelings.
Mostly, cognitive behavioral therapy session will take place once in week or once in two
weeks. Five to twenty sessions are taken for treatment with each session taking 30minutes to one
hour. This depends on the problem and the motivation for change in the patient. During the
sessions, the patient and the therapist work together to break down the problem into parts that
can be managed. For instance, the therapist will help the patient identify and break down the
problem into negative thoughts, feelings and behavioral actions. The therapist will then facilitate
a session where the client will decide whether these aspects are helpful or not. The therapist will
then help the patient to alter unhelpful and unrealistic behaviors. The patient will be asked to
incorporate the new strategies into his/her daily life and tell whether they were effective in the
next session (Watkins, 2018).
Reasons behind the choice of cognitive behavioral therapy
Based on the idea that our thoughts influence our behavior and feelings, cognitive
behavioral therapy poses clear reasons why a therapist would choose to be a cognitive behavioral
therapist.
It leads to identification of negative thoughts and emotions, it helps in preventing
addiction relapses and deterioration, it helps in controlling and managing anger, it is a good
therapy when coping with massive grief and loss, it manages relationships troubles by helping to
resolve them, finally, it is an effective tool when overcoming sleep problems and disorders such
as insomnia (Dobson and Dozois, 2019).

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Strengths and weaknesses of cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective tonic for some individuals with mental health
problems and feelings, but not for some people. This is because it presents with some strengths
and limitations. In terms of its strengths, its approach is more focused and structured. Here, the
therapist is the instructor, unlike in psychodynamic therapy where the patient takes time for self-
identification and exploration and the approach comes as an open-ended design. On this regard,
its nature of being focused and structured makes it last for a short time, making it short term.
This means that ample time and resources are saved. Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy
helps patient grow coping skills that are of great importance both now and in the future (Linehan,
2018).
In terms of its weaknesses, identifying and recognizing unhealthy thoughts and feelings
as the approach suggests does not necessarily mean that a change will be obvious. Sometimes an
attempt to change these thoughts becomes very difficult unlike the case in psychoanalytical
approach. Secondly, cognitive behavioral therapy does not just involve identification of negative
thought processes. There is more! A wide range of strategies are employed, following
identification of these negative thought processes. Such strategies may include role-play,
distractions of the mind and techniques that are meant to relax one’s mind. Finally, cognitive
behavioral therapy holds a limitation for patients with complex mental health problems and
severe learning problems. This is because it involves strict, focused and structured sessions
(Watkins, 2018).

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Conclusion
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on negative thoughts and feelings that influence an
individual’s behavior. A cognitive behavioral therapist helps a patient by first helping him/her
identify the problem. This is the first stage known as functional analysis. Behaviors that are
leading to the problem are then identified and approaches meant to improve the situation are
employed. Here, the patient is taught skills that are helpful and can be practiced in the real world.
Generally, cognitive behavioral therapy is a process in which there is gradual progress towards
behavior change.
Cognitive behavioral therapy has become popular in the recent years due to its short-term
nature. Additionally, it helps patients get through a wide range of disorders originating from the
mind. There are several reasons why therapists would choose to use cognitive behavioral therapy
including but not limited to identification of negative thoughts and emotions, prevention of
addiction relapses and managing anger. It entails strengths and weaknesses that form the redline
when a patient and his/her are choosing a counseling technique. The strengths stem down from
its ability to save time and resources due to its focused and structured nature all the way to
helping a patient grow coping skills. Its weaknesses are well stated in that it assumes that change
after identifying toxic thoughts is obvious.

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References
Coren, A. (2016). Brief psychodynamic counselling in educational settings. New York:
Routledge.
Dobson, D. (2018). Evidence-based practice of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Guilford
Publications.
Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. (Eds.). (2019). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies.
Guilford Publications.
Evans, G. (2018). Assessing clients with a serious physical illness or disability for
psychodynamic counselling. In Dual Realities (pp. 27-37). Routledge.
Hofmann, S. G., & Otto, M. W. (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety
disorder: Evidence-based and disorder specific treatment techniques. Routledge.
Howard, S. (2017). Skills in psychodynamic counselling & psychotherapy. Sage.
Linehan, M. M. (2018). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder.
Guilford Publications.
Spurling, L. (2017). An introduction to psychodynamic counselling. Macmillan International
Higher Education.
Watkins, E. R. (2018). Rumination-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression.
Guilford Publications.
Wosket, V. (2016). The therapeutic use of self: Counselling practice, research and supervision.
Routledge