Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on uncovering unconscious patterns and emotional conflicts that influence behavior, enabling profound personal insight and healing. This course begins by defining psychodynamic psychotherapy and its roots in psychoanalysis, outlining how this therapy works through exploring core principles such as unconscious motives and early life experiences. You will learn about the goals and wide-ranging applications of psychodynamic therapy, including its use in addressing complex emotional and psychological issues.

The course delves into the intricate workings of the conscious and unconscious mind, emphasizing key defense mechanisms such as denial, repression, projection, and sublimation. Understanding these processes is critical for therapists to recognize client behavior and facilitate change. The therapeutic relationship is highlighted as a cornerstone of treatment, with lessons on creating a safe environment, maintaining boundaries, and obtaining informed consent.

Further, you will explore assessment techniques, goal setting, and empathic listening as foundational skills in therapy. The course covers advanced topics such as transference, countertransference, free association, and the symbolic language of dreams, which are essential tools in psychodynamic practice. You will also examine the structure of therapy sessions, including short-term approaches and strategies for ending therapy effectively.

Additional lessons address the integration of medication, managing stress and anger, and complementary approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). By combining theoretical knowledge with practical techniques, this course prepares learners to deliver psychodynamic psychotherapy with confidence and clinical competence.