Childhood Memories Influence on our Adult Lives

History

In counseling I believe the psychodynamic approach is very important, which is why I chose to write about it in this essay. Psychodynamic approach states that events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality. Psychodynamic approach started off in 1895 when Sigmund Freud and his advisor wrote a book called “Studies on Hysteria.” “In the book they explained their theory: Every hysteria is a result of a traumatic experience, one that cannot be integrated into the person’s understanding of the world.

” In 1896 Freud had found the key to his own system, naming it psychoanalysis. He believes that the mind is divided into various parts that relate to one another outside of one’s immediate awareness and that some knowledge, information, memories, and emotions are held outside of one’s conscious awareness.

There are three levels to the human mind: the conscious (easily accessed), the preconscious (below awareness), and the unconscious (not aware it happen). Freud was more interested in the unconscious part of the mind. Freud believe that people are greatly affected by the content of their unconscious, without realizing it. He believed this effect often causes psychological disorders. Psychodynamic has three different intrapsychic conflicts: Id, ego, and superego. The Id is the primitive and instinctive component of personality. It consists of all the inherited components of personality present at birth. Id operates based on the pleasure principle which demands immediate gratification of needs. The ego develops to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world. It is the decision making component of personality. The ego operates according to the reality principle, working out realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands, often compromising or postponing satisfaction to avoid negative consequences of society. The superego incorporates the values and morals of society which are learned from one’s parents and others. It develops around the age of 3-5 during the phallic stage of psychosexual development. The superego’s function is to control the id’s impulses, especially those which society forbids, such as sex and aggression. The psychodynamic theory focused on the past and significant traumatic events, disruptions to our sense of security and attachment.

Psychodynamic approach is very effective for a wide range of mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety, panic and stress related physical ailments, and the benefits of the therapy grow after treatment has ended according to new research published by American Psychological Association. I believe that the psychodynamic approach is great because I do believe that the things we do and behaviors we have come from past experiences or childhood experiences.

Therapeutic Models

Psychoanalysis is based on the idea that a person’s behavior is affected by the unconscious mind and by past experiences. Psychoanalysis is a psychodynamic model Freud used while practicing therapy. He would have his clients sit on a couch and he would get out of sight and they would talk about whatever came to mind. This process was called Free Association. Another psychoanalytic approach is Object Relations theory that focuses on how one relates to others. Another thing Freud focuses on are dreams. What does the dream mean and what can we learn from the dream.

Factors to Consider

Some factors to consider with psychodynamic theory would be projection, transference and countertransference. Projection is a theory introduced that the more anonymous the therapist presents the more open clients are to project necessary emotions. Transference is when clients use projection to work through unresolved past conflicts through the therapy relationship can distort the relationship. Countertransference is when a therapist projects strong feelings towards a client. Psychodynamic approach is a great approach for things such as depression and different mental illnesses or substance use disorders because the majority of people with a substance use disorder have been found to have some type of trauma in their childhood. I always think it is a good idea to explore a person’s childhood especially when dealing with things as serious as depression. Psychodynamic approach is one of the three main types of therapy used to treat depression and any other serious psychological disorders, especially in those who have lost meaning in their lives and have difficulty forming or maintaining personal relationships.

Theories and techniques that distinguish psychodynamic therapy from other types of therapy include a focus on recognizing, acknowledging, understanding, expressing, and overcoming negative and contradictory feelings and repressed emotions in order to improve the patient’s interpersonal experiences and relationships. This theory isn’t always used because some counselors may not have enough time to dig into someone’s childhood experiences. Freud’s psychodynamic approach is still very relevant today.

Some of the treatment processes for psychodynamic approach would be focusing on affect and expression of emotion, exploration of attempts to avoid distressing thoughts and feelings, identifying recurring themes and patterns, discussing past experiences, building therapy relationships, and exploring.

I truly agree with Freud’s phsychodynamic approach. I believe this is one of the most important approaches, and I may only say that because it is one of my favorite approaches. This is the approach I plan to use one day when I become a counselor. I love the thought of digging into someone’s childhood to figure out what the issue is. Especially dealing with depression I think it is interesting to see where certain things stem from. I think it is very interesting that our childhood or our upbringing and past experiences can cause us to have certain behaviors and cause us to do things that aren’t really us but they are done due to trauma that we haven’t addressed. It amazes me how many people have dealt with some type of trauma in their childhood and how it has affected them and how it is still affecting them till this day and they don’t even recognize it because most people just think this is the way I am when in reality they have suppressed the trauma so much that they are comfortable with it now. So I love everything about the psychodynamic approach because it is very interesting how the mind works and how trauma can really affect people. I wouldn’t say that there is anything that I really disagree with in this approach I think that this is a very great approach and the techniques used in this approach are very good for the approach as well. I think it is very interesting looking back into the history of the approach and how it started and turned into what it is today.

I believe that many people have experienced some type of trauma in their lives which made them who they are today. I think it is very important to deal with that trauma and how they were affected by it so that they won’t be suppressing it. I love this approach because it deals with depression, PTSD, and different types of traumatic events.

In conclusion, the psychodynamic approach is one of the most important approaches to me because it really gets to your mind and uprooting the real issues in whatever the client may be dealing with. I think it is important to deal with unresolved problems from the past to deal with present problems because the present problem stems from the unresolved problem.

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