Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic\Objects Relations Theory

In a Nutshell

Current problems come from unconscious childhood relationship patterns repeating in adulthood.

Transference

→ Client projects feelings from important childhood relationships onto therapist.

Memory:Client → therapist.

Countertransference

→ Therapist emotionally reacts based on therapist's own issues.

Memory:Therapist → client

Interlocking Pathologies

→ Family members unconsciously reinforce each other's unhealthy patterns

Memory:Everyone accidentally keeps it going

Attachment and Self-Object Relations Patterns

→ Early attachment relationships create expectations for future relationships.

Memory:

Early relationships become templates

Parental Introjects

→ Internalized parent messages later projected into relationships.

Memory:

Parent voice inside

Transference Between Family Members

→ Family members project/ transfer old feelings/repressed material onto each other.

Memory:

Old feelings → current family

Defense Mechanisms- Splitting

→ See people as all good or all bad

Memory:

Black/white people thinking

Defense Mechanisms-Projection

→ Put unwanted feelings onto someone else

Memory:

"It's you, not me"

Defense Mechanisms-Projective Identification

→ Project unwanted parts of self onto partner

Memory:

Make partner carry it

Defense Mechanisms-Repression

→ Unconsciously push painful thoughts/feelings away.

Memory:

Hide it without knowing

Defense Mechanisms-Suppression

→ Consciously choose to put thoughts aside

Memory:

Hide it on purpose

Defense Mechanisms-Displacement

→ Shift emotion from real target to safer target

Example:

Mad at boss → yell at spouse

Memory:

Move feelings elsewhere

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Holding Environment

→ Therapist creates emotionally safe place with empathy and listening.

Memory:

Safe emotional space

🟢 INTERVENTIONS

Interpretation

→ Therapist explains unconscious patterns/dynamics. Such as dreams, metaphors, events

🟢 INTERVENTIONS

Working Through

→ Practice new awareness repeatedly until change happens.

Memory:

Insight → action

🟢 INTERVENTIONS

Eliciting

→ Draw out hidden feelings/thoughts

🟢 INTERVENTIONS

Detriangulation

→ Remove third person from emotional conflict. but more Bowen language.

🟢 INTERVENTIONS

Family-of-Origin Therapy

→ Explore how early family relationships affect present life

Memory:

Look backward

👉 THERAPIST TRYING TO DO

Make unconscious relationship patterns conscious so clients can create healthier relationships.

Process:

Basic Psychodynamic Process: 3 Basic Stages

1. Create a “holding environment”

• Listening objectively with empathy.

2. Interpretation and Insight

• Therapist analyzes intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics that are source of symptoms.

• Promote client insight into dynamics; must get through client defenses.

3. Working Through

• Therapist facilitates working through insights to translate them into action in clients’ daily lives.

General Goals of Psychoanalysis

• understand unhealthy impulses

• improve coping/defenses

• stronger self

• insight → action

• emotional growth

• reduce perfectionism

• healthier personality

• intimacy without losing self

Objects Relations Theory

• object = important person

• internal = mental picture

• external = actual person

• good enough = responsive parent

• true self = authentic self

• separation-individuation = become own person

👉 "early caregiver relationships become templates for future relationships"

Level of Consciousness- 3

• Conscious

• Preconscious

• Unconscious

The Therapeutic Relationship

• relationship matters

• client → therapist

• therapist → client

• therapist stays neutral

• emotional safety

• empathy

• reflect self

• both influence relationship

• therapist self-awareness

Object Relations often studies:

Problematic attachment patterns

Insecure

= unhealthy early attachment patterns

Object relations therapists are:

Relationally focused

Traditional Psychoanalysis

= blank slate, neutral

Object Relations

= relationship matters

Holding environment =

empathy + emotional safety

Caregivers can become:

• ideal object

• rejecting object

• exciting object

Centered holding =

deeper empathic connection

Psychoanalysis

• Intensive approach designed to create significant and sustainable personality change

• Sessions typically occur 3 to 5 times a week for several years