Psychodynamic theory and therapy

1. Psychodynamic theory and therapy Unit 12

2. Learning Objectives • By the end of today, all learners will have: • Identified at least 3 ways in which the psychodynamic theory can be applied to health and social care settings • Identified defence mechanism within case examples • Some learners will have: • Contributed to class discussions • Identified more than 3 ways theory can be applied • Led a small group discussion

3. Starter activity • What have we learnt so far about psychodynamic approach?! • Mini whiteboards ~ 5 mins to write what you can remember! • Psyche ~ Id, Ego, Superego • Unconscious mind ~ iceberg • Defence mechanisms

4. Snippet of Freud http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho4PzRp3Fwk • To help you remember!

5. Defence Mechanisms ~ Scenarios • Arnold lives alone in a 3 bedroom house; he has filled all of the bedrooms, living rooms, and corridor with old newspapers • Arnold explains he likes to collect newspapers as he is interested in history • Andrea has chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease which causes her distress and difficultly in breathing. She has a long medical history of illness. When asked about her health she claims that there is nothing wrong with her than that she is very well • Andrea says that she never experienced any serious illness in her life • Andrea says that her carers are ‘angels sent from God – the most wonderful people in the world and most kindest, cleverest people she has ever met’ • Angela says that the manger of the home is trying to poison her and that she knows this is true as he does not like her

6. Answers…. • Sublimination ~ redirecting mental energy away from aspects of he life which become threatening • Rationalisation ~ ignoring the real reason for collecting so many newspapers • Denial ~ to block out the awareness of what is actually happening • Repressing ~ repressing memory of past illness to make the situation feel safe • Reaction formation ~ angry and stressed about the situation, using the reaction formation to change her emotions into an over emphasised opposite • Displacement ~ putting emotions onto the manager and defending her ego against full awareness of motivation by using projection to claim that he dislikes her ~ its his fault!

7. So… • How does all this link to health and social care? • Consider how you could apply the theory to the workplace settings of education, care etc. • What elements of the theory could you use? And where? • Therapists need to be able to understand what s happening that persons unconscious in in order for therapy to be effective

8. Attachment Theory Attachment theory is focused on the relationships and bonds between people, particularly long-term relationships including those between a parent and child and between romantic partners Read hand out and make notes on the following: • Attachment theory • Internal working model • Different types of attachment

9. Internal working model • Quality of early attachment would set an emotional pattern that would influence further relationships • Those that were deprived of apporpriate attachment (e.g. experiences of separation) less able to form loving relationships • Internal working model of the way in which social relationships work • Develops from our biological need to form attachments with carers during infancy • Carers behaviour will influence the development of our internal working model

10. Task… • Read the 2 scenarios and answer the questions on the hand out