What is Psychodynamic Psychology? Beyond Freud and Psychotherapy.

[@Marios_CG]

As a fellow psychologist (though I'm in training!) I'm so happy to see more attention being given to the psychodynamic field. Excited to see more from your channel.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Yes, that's my mission! I love this approach and in order to preserve diversity of the field, all approaches should be represented. Thank you for being here, Marios! Best of luck with your education and training.

[@johnatherton878]

"The Brain that Changes Itself," by Norman Doidge, DEFINITELY establishes that the psychodynamic approach is not dead and outdated and is still relevant! Chapter 9, "Turning our Ghosts into Ancestors" talks about psychoanalysis as a "neuroplastic therapy."

[@kimengelbrecht1410]

I've just started with my BSc (Hons) in Psychology, and one of my assignments needs to be about a perspective. Your explanation about the psychodynamic perspective made me fall in love with this perspective. I'm following you and looking at all your videos. It's really a game-changer. Thank you so much.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Dear Kim, thank you so much for your kind words 🙏 I'm so happy to hear my videos are helpful and made you fall in love with the psychodynamic approach - welcome to the club! I hope to make more helpful videos in the future. Best of luck with your degree 🍀

[@adamborowicz7209]

"The "acceptance" part of the video was great. So much harder to make it happen in real life.

[@meridithbertwell1037]

Yes, sign me up for the Psychodynamic Circle :) Thank you for updated people on the current and expansive views and values available within the depth perspective!

[@shmoolicious]

I'm so excited to watch your latest video! Thanks to you I've discovered Adler and read "The courage of be disliked" and then also "The courage to be happy". So grateful for your content!

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

This makes me so happy! Thank you for your kind words as always. It's so heartwarming to see the same names reappearing :)

[@johnatherton878]

VERY helpful and VERY profound! I have worked in the psychiatric field in my active years. As a Mental Health Specialist and as an Intake Coordinator of Medical Detox. I sought knowledge from your videos to help me over come my "writer's block."

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you!

[@motivemystic]

Wow, this video was incredibly informative! As someone who has always been interested in psychology, I loved learning about the concept of psychodynamic psychology and its significance beyond just psychotherapy. It's fascinating to explore the ideas beyond Freud and see how this field has evolved. Thanks for breaking it down in such a simple and engaging way! Can't wait to delve deeper into this subject.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you so much! Yes, this field is riiiiich - and much more than just Freud ;)

[@sia9907]

Yes! That American mindset is terrible for mental health. I felt so much better, myself, when I fully abandoned the idea of 'happiness' I'd unconsciously absorbed from US media and started focusing on accepting suffering. It's a more European approach, imo, perhaps a specifically Western European one. Which would make sense, considering the birthplace of psychology.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Hi Sia! Hm... I needed to think about this for a bit. I don't think it's necessary "terrible". I'd see it as a certain proclivity that we might want to keep in mind. Every culture's focus brings positive and negative aspects with it. In the end, it's about finding a balance that works for us. But to me it's super interesting to tune into how culture influences our psyche :)

[@sia9907]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology Kristin Neff explains how and why it's bad for mental health far better than I could. She's a bit 'pop psych' and pseudo-spiritual, which can be off-putting, but if you ever have the time or the inclination I recommend her first book. Also sorry if I put words in your mouth a little bit. Your measured response is noted. ❤️

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you for the suggestion! I'll look into it, I'm always open to change my mind but usally try to remain centered. Thank you for making me think and reflect about this deeper :) I love the discourse in the comments recently! So man interesting questions and perspectives. I hope it will stay this way :)

[@SusanaXpeace2u]

Yes, my therapist recommended the neff/germer work book to me. I took it slowly did the exercises, one chapter per week to really think and re-shape my views and expectations for myself

[@bahmankhodadadi3193]

As great as before… no wait a second. Much better than before. It’s awesome to see how well your talks improve! Proud of you Alina. Well done 👍🏻

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you so much, Bahman! Your kind feedback, encouragement, and support means so much to me 😊 I hope Yale treats you well and you enjoy your time on the other side of the pond 😉 Viel Erfolg 🍀

[@olleharstedt3750]

It's interesting to compare which assumptions CBT makes about the mind. What's the difference between something not-yet-verbalized and something subconscious, for example? Are underlying assumptions subconscious? What about automatic thoughts you're not aware of having, or core beliefs like "I am bad"?

[@stephenbrown4801]

I can see there are a lot of professionals here in the comments but as someone just wanting to become more self-aware I really appreciate every bit of your content that I’ve consumed. Thank you.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Dear Stephen, thank you for your comment! I'm glad to have a diverse mix of professionals and psychodynamically-curious minds (like yours) in my community :) So happy to hear my content was helpful.

[@robertomendez1271]

Thank you for taking the time to create this video and gather information, As a training candidate myself, this helps make some of the other readings we are given digestible. Thank you so much for this needed help!

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

It was my pleasure. Thank you so much for your kind words, Roberto! It means a lot. I wish you the best with your training from one fellow trainee to another :)

[@nafeesa14]

I am in training and this was such a great episode ❤

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Wonderful! Happy to hear that.

[@nafeesa14]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology hope you keep posting

[@elizabethamandahead3958]

Thanks

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you so much for your kind and generous support, Amanda!

[@talkingpsychology]

This video is a great introduction to psychoanalytic/ psychodynamic thinking both for the layman and a good refresher for the professional. Thank you for your work!

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you so much for your kind words :) I appreciate it! Great to connect with other people in the field.

[@talkingpsychology]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology yes it is great to connect with other people in the field it broadens our perspectives ( if you even want to ask something about French psychoanalysis please feel free). Thank again and I wish you a great day !

[@cherubxingyu]

Love your video and perspective! I have experiences and trainings from mentors/supervisors in China, U.S. and Europe. It's sad that psychoanalytic/psychodynamic approach is taught in China in a way that does not embody the values you mention in the video at all! It becomes: authoritarian, you must see the therapist three times a week and more than 5 years to see improvement, therapist is a blank mirror, your past determines everything so let's dig through your traumas. Many of my clients who had seen psychoanalytic therapists before had so many traumatic memories. I am still trying to understand how it happened this way.

[@kristinmillercenterofatten1397]

What a wonderful video. I would love to be added to your newsletter on Psychodynamic thinking. Thank you.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you, Kristin! You can go to psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter/ and sign up there. Best wishes :)

[@heshamahmad4101]

i love you so much for making these exciting videos .... please please keept it up

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Glad you like them!

[@SusanaXpeace2u]

I agree with Julia Cristina. After 6 weeks of nc I got the sack and it felt weird knowing he didn't even know that. Within another 6 weeks, id found a new job and I was feeling comfortable that he thought/assumed I was still at the old job.

[@johnatherton878]

Wow, I just watched "A Most Dangerous Method," the movie. Am reading the book too. PROFOUND, especially if you have an interest in this topic. Recommended.

[@opp5722]

What do you mean by wise rather than smart when u were talking about the values ?

[@dragonlotion1789]

Your voice is so relaxing, I’m sure if you started an ASMR channel it would be successful.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Haha! Maybe one day

[@opp5722]

When trained in psychodynamic you focus on a specific thinker or you combine different theories from diverse thinkers ?

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Definitely combining different theories from diverse thinkers. We learn to craft a unique theory for each patient we see.

[@siemiontek]

Hey, I really liked your video in which you talked about creating the life you love using Adlerian psychology and it seems to be removed. I found it really useful and wanted to ask you if there is a possibility of you making it available again?

[@PezhmanSeify]

Is it possible to have some videos about self psychology?

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

I don't know enough, yet, to make videos about it I would find valuable. Hopefully one day :)

[@fahimahmed5000]

I love the Psychodynamic approach but I’m not sure if I should train in Integrative counselling to get the best of all approaches. However this will mean sacrificing a lot of depth for breadth.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

First go deep, then go broad. I'd say it's best to first be thoroughly trained in one approach - and then you can add others later on. Otherwise you might end up knowing a little bit of everything without being able to properly treat a case from start to finish.

[@shmoolicious]

Yes! Nancy McWilliams is my Taylor Swift!!

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Hahaha, oh my god, this had me laughing out loud! Yep, that's the spirit. Even though, Tayler Swift's "Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism" had me feeling all the psychdynamic chills.

[@lauramach3300]

Thank you ❤

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

You're welcome! Thank you for your support :)

[@Qadr90]

Random but somewhat related question if I may: what does psychodynamic theory say about anxiety? Specifically, is there anything in the literature about the unconscious and anxiety? For instance, experiencing some symptoms of anxiety (let's say sweating, or increased heart rate), but not actually feeling anxious or particularly distressed. Is that a possibility? Do you know if that is common? If yes I guess it would at least support the idea around the unconscious being worth exploring.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Hi Samsara! Thank you for your interest. I cannot give you a clear answer to this question... The psychodynamic approach is very versatile, so ego psychology, object relations theory, Jungians, Freudian, Adlerians, Lacanian, etc. would all think differently about the same thing. Then, we don't look so much at the presenting symptom in isolation but at the whole person (and their history, personality style, defenses, presenting patterns). Repressing parts of the anxious affect (and only being left with the physical residue) might mean something -- or not. Repressing anxiety and what might be connected with it can be all sorts of things. Ranging from fears of separation, annihilation, impending guilt, shame... Possibilities are endless! Don't buy "standard" explanations. It might be interesting for you to look for a psychodynamic psychotherapist licensed in your area if you'd be curious to explore this further. Best wishes!

[@Qadr90]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology Thank you

[@jonz9296]

Just a reply for this: please look up Malan’s triangles or the triangle of conflict. Anxiety is an absolutely immense part of dynamic case conceptualization. Stimuli create emotions that get us anxious and we end up defending. This is the basis of all psychodynamic thought and clinical intervention.

[@margotmuller9401]

hallo Alina, ein ganz wunderbares Video. danke!

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Vielen lieben Dank ❤️

[@yasminmiah]

I would be super interested in the project you're planning ♡

[@heshamahmad4101]

i am pursuing bachelor in psychology and i really love your videos.. can you videos on different psychotherapies mostly used ..

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you! What do you mean by different psychotherapies?

[@heshamahmad4101]

all the approaches@@PsychodynamicPsychology

[@PsychologyPhilosophyTube]

Gibt es einen Unterschied zwischen Tiefenpsychologischer Therapie und Psychodynamischer Therapie oder ist das das Selbe?

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Psychodynamische Therapie ist der Oberbegriff und bezeichnet tiefenpsychologisch fundierte UND analytische Psychotherapie.

[@PsychologyPhilosophyTube]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology Dankeschön!

[@oz3691]

Thank you soooooo much for your videos 🙏♥️🙏♥️🙏♥️

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Glad you like them!

[@Merisao9]

Hallo Alina, vielen Dank für das Video. Ein spannender und inspirierender Einblick für mich 😊 Kannst du mir verraten von welchem Brief Freuds du genau sprachst? Ich will schon seit längerem Briefe von Freud lesen, weiß aber nicht wo anfangen. Hast du einen Vorschlag?

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Das war aus "Studien über Hysterie" - super alt! 1895 glaube ich noch vor der Traumdeutung. Tatsächlich kann ich das nicht ganz für einen Einstieg empfehlen (Die Traumdeutung schonmal gar nicht :D). Ich würde lieber mit "Vorlesungen zur Einführung in die Psychoanalyse", "Trauer und Melancholie" oder "Das Unbehagen in der Kultur" anfangen.

[@henrikemoll5136]

Hallo Alina, ich freue mich sehr, Deine Beiträge aus dem Netz gefischt zu haben - sie sind sehr instruktiv und verständlich! Ich forsche im Bereich Entwicklungspsychologie (theory of mind, etc.) und lasse mich gerade an einer amerikanischen Universität zur Psychotherapeutin ausbilden. Ich hätte ein paar Fragen an Dich und Deinen Ausbildungsweg. Dürfte ich Dir eine private Nachricht senden? Sehr vielen Dank im Voraus! Henrike

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Liebe Henrike! Das freut mich zu hören :) Das klingt ja sehr spannend. Aktuell habe ich wenig Zeit detailliert Fragen zu beantworten, deswegen keine Garantie: [e-mail]

[@mrbokonmrbokon6228]

Hello lady, I thank you for posting this valuable information

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

You're welcome! Thank you for your kind words.

[@FasikaAmdeslasieSurgeon]

That is lovely. Than you. We may not figure out everything. One question, what does psychodynamic psychology have to say about spirituality?

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Hi Fasika! Thank you for your kind words and interest :) Puh, again the psychodynamic approach is very versatile, so ego psychology, object relations theory, Jungians, Freudian, Adlerians, Lacanian, etc. would all think differently about (the function of) spiritualiy! Freud denied it, Jung appreciated it.

[@FasikaAmdeslasieSurgeon]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology thank you dear friend. I await your next video. Can you please also make videos with clear steps to self analysis, understanding self and the like. Thank you again.

[@thebeatles9]

In large regard, PDT nowadays also means non-prescriptive, client-centered therapy, with a strong relationship and fewer boundaries--and for more than a 8-16 session "evidence based" where 70% of the treatment group receives little to no benefit.

[@JohnSWren]

Have you read Robert Langs MD? Big write up in Wikipedia, he was a prolific writer.

[@thombales1299]

Your videos are excellent! I am curious how pychodynamic psychology looks at chronic pain?

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Hi Tom! Thank you so much for your kind words and interest :) Hm... that's difficult because (1) the psychodynamic approach is very versatile, so ego psychology, object relations theory, Jungians, Freudian, Adlerians, Lacanian, etc. would all think differently about the same thing! And (2) we don't look so much at the presenting symptom in isolation but at the whole person (and their history, personality style, defenses, presenting patterns). There is no denying of first and foremost clarifying any organic cause. But if there is no organic cause, chronic pain can have a different "function" for every person experiencing it. As you see, it's complicated.

[@gulgutz90]

You might want to watch the documentary "All the rage" by Dr. E Sarno who bases his theories on Freud. As well as reading his books such as Healing Back Pain or The Mind Body Prescription.

[@bepositivestaynegative]

Hi. Iam new here. I heard if Alders Menschenkenntnis and Minderwertigkeitskomplex. I liked it but the decision to learn more about Adler was made when I heard that he reflected on societys gender issues.

[@nafeesa14]

I hope you make more videos❤

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

I'm trying 🙈

[@skionen1781]

The conscious preconscious and the unconscious mind. Like diving deep at the bottom of the ocean the conscious mind is a thin slice of the mind.

[@alessandracm1921]

I missed your videos! 😊

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Alessandra! I missed being on here too. It's difficult to keep producing content while working sometimes. But I'm always happy to connect with likeminded people in the comment section. Great to have you here!

[@laiquangminh631]

Thanks for this content❤I have some question for you which I realy longing to answer⁉️I always a firm beliver in existence of unconscious. However, psychodynamic always make me confused. How can I can see the different between gold and bull shit idea in this tradition? How Psychodynamic tradition find the true and know that is true without scientific methodology in mainstream sense? I just want to take firm step to discover this tradition without fall to pseudoscience and outdated idea. Please answer my question question, you will help me a lot.❤

[@Doris454]

Ich liebe deine Videos und höre dir sooo gerne zu! Dein Englisch hört sich auch so wunderschön an, aus Neugier, hast du mal in einem englischsprachigen Land gelebt? Liebe Grüße

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Vielen Dank, Doris, das sind wirklich liebe und ermutigende Worte. Ich habe immer mal wieder im Ausland gelebt, jedoch war Englisch schon immer meine Lieblingssprache. Liebe Grüße zurück!

[@johnatherton878]

I get to be the first "like" and the first comment!

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Thank you, John!

[@Kar-Kan]

"this is not religion"... Well, but it is religion of our days. Medieval scholastics did same thing with philosophical systems as modern psychologists do with theories of psychological systems. In religion there is various saints, under that religions umbrela, that you can chose, for your approach to conscious relationship with God. In psychologie there is variuos thinkers, under umbrela of psychology, who you can chose to, for approach to relationship between person's consciousness and subconsciousness.

[@hashemali4750]

I am an undergraduate psychology student at ain shams university in Egypt and I wish you recommend best books on psychodynamic therapy and if possible can you summerize them in your videos

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

If it's books in English: start with Nancy McWilliams :)

[@alessandracm1921]

I love the way you pronounce German names. Then I remember you are German. 😀

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

Haha, yes, that's my secret :P

[@muskulpesentbey3468]

As a person who continued psychodynamic theraphy for longer than 3 years once a week, I can say that it is BS. Why? Beause, until you realise the opposite, you think you would understand something about yourself through the help of your therapist and change the things you think or feel you need to change. But after a while you realise that even if you continue to go to the sessions without interruption and trying to be honest 100% with yourself during the sessions, nothing happens other than some small things. Those small things can also be thought as the natural flow of the life itself, not a benefit of the theraphy or you can achive the same by speaking with yourself or think about your life one hour once a week or just live your life. So, after a more while you think it does not help you but your therapist says that it is a long journey bla, bla, bla...you think something will happen at some point and continue. For me, it was like talking to the wall behind the therapist because she did not contributed the process that much.(at least imho) I told my thoughts and feelings about the sessions to her but nothing changed except that she would speak more for a while when I complain about her. I told her I found her passive but nothing changed. Even it was this hopeless for me, I still felt some good can be attained from just speaking my mind without almost any filters. So, I told her I did not think she contributed much but I would continue because I could help myself by just speaking to myself. But, the thought that I am speaking to myself only started to disturb me after a while because it had been more than 3 years and I did not feel like it helped me that much. Besides, I was paying money for this sh*t. When you bring your thoughts and feelings to the table, they will say you have powerful resistance and it is not a short process etc. But generally you just complain but nothing happens. The same things continue to happen. There is no specific goal or anything. You are expected to trust someone you do not know about and you do not know if s/he is an expert or not(this may change depending on where you live) and you see that even some foundational experiments of psychology cannot be repeated with the same results. You need to trust your therapist for an unknown period of time of which you do not know if it will work out at the end. When you have 'trust issues' yourself and do not get something different in theraphy from what you get from your life, you think your therapist will say some things to soothe your doubts, but naah, s/he will say some bullshit which means nothing and you will continue a little more. It is funny though. Even after all these nonsense, I still believe that psychodynamic threraply can be somehow helpful but you need perfect circumstances. because there are too many variables in this problem. Your therapist may be not skilled enough or may be stubborn to accept his/her approach does not work (or s/he does not help), the type of therapy your therapist use may be useless, even the science behind the therapy itself may be partially wrong. In fact there are too many other variables which did not come to my mind in this particular moment, but if you search a little you will find easily. Consequently, after trying theraphy for 3 years, I think I can summarize the experience as disappointing.

[@PsychodynamicPsychology]

It sounds like you and your therapist were a terrible match. I hope you find someone who maybe is a bit more fatherly in their style to have a more productive experience. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[@muskulpesentbey3468]

@@PsychodynamicPsychology what a lovely comment 😊 thank you for your good wishes. It made me happy. Also, I want to say sorry for my bad words. I just got frustrated due to 3 year's disappointment. Have a good day 😊

[@marcosalduenda]

Please don't use music... it's so distracting

[@FlolosophyThinking]

I would suggest that, instead of stating that psychodynamics is a comprehensive theory on 'human nature', we state that it is a theory on subjectivity itself, human or non-human. Lacan took this idea a step further by incorporating aspects of ontology into his work with the Real-Symbolic-Imaginary triad. Human nature is a controversial and misleading concept because it supposes exactly that which Freud wanted to get rid of: the idea that there is such a thing as psychichally 'healthy' (natural) and 'unhealthy' (un-natural) people (which you also talk about in this video). The theory of subjectivity that for example Lacan advances proposes that incompleteness (e.g. madness) is a characteristic not only of humans but could also be said to be inherent to reality itself, and thus any conceivable self-conscious being.