Brief dynamic psychotherapy

Abstract

The notion of brief dynamic psychotherapy (BDP) may seem at first sight to be a contradiction in terms. ‘Dynamic’ is a Freudian psychoanalytic term implying conflictual psychological forces — an opposition between the conscious and unconscious mind, and the use of defence mechanisms to arrive at a compromise between them. The rigidity of the obsessional person whose self-expression is traded for security, the self-reproaches of the depressive reflecting inhibited aggression, the clinging of the phobic individual who lacks an inner sense of a secure base — these would be examples of the relationship between dynamic conflict and psychiatric symptoms. But the image of psychoanalysis conjures up a picture of prolonged and intensive couch-based therapy. How can this be brief?

The Young People's Consultation Service: An Evaluation of a Consultation Model of Very Brief Psychotherapy

“…(1986) similarly found that those with depressive disorders began responding at the lowest ‘doses’ of psychotherapy. Likewise, Holmes (1994), following a review of outcome literature in this field, found that people with depression responded well to brief dynamic psychotherapy.…”

“…Of note, Howard et al (1986) similarly found that those with depressive disorders began responding at the lowest 'doses' of psychotherapy. Likewise, Holmes (1994), following a review of outcome literature in this field, found that people with depression responded well to brief dynamic psychotherapy. In a study of psychotherapy with young people at another local service, the Brandon Centre, Baruch and Fearon (2002) found markedly lower rates of reliable improvement for externalizing problems and, indeed, found that nearly 12% showed a deterioration.…”

“…It may be that the crucial variable in brief psychotherapy is this therapeutic relationship. Holmes (1994) argues that it is quality rather than quantity that is essential for secure attachments and this analogy may be logically extended to psychotherapy. It has been argued that ‘positive therapeutic alliance’ is a good predictor of positive outcome in therapy (e.g.…”

Pathways to Illness, Pathways to Health

“…Brief dynamic psychotherapy is a form of verbal psychotherapy, which assists the patient to identify core emotional experiences playing out in each new life problem (Holmes, 1994 ) . The patient learns to recognize the role of speci fi c early life experiences in sensitizing the individual to this key, repetitive emotional experience.…”

The piloting of a brief relational psychodynamic protocol (psychodynamic addiction model) for problem gambling and other compulsive addictions: A retrospective analysis

“…A number of psychodynamic models highlight the key components needed in successful brief working (Holmes, ; Mander, ). These have included concepts such as working with the therapeutic relationship (Ferenczi, ; Saltzman, Luctgert, Roth, Creaser, & Howard, ), leapfrogging interpretations (Holmes, ), the use of counter‐transference disclosures (Safran, ), and Malan's () triangles of insight/ defence. An important element of these models pertains to a sound therapeutic relationship at the beginning stages of therapy.…”