Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics

Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics present an extensive examination of the basic principles of dynamic psychotherapy. It discusses the concept of constructive aggression. It addresses the analysis of expressive and defensive mechanisms. Some of the topics covered in the book are the therapeutic effects from history taking; common syndromes of sexual problems in women; qualities needed by a therapists; characteristics of unconscious communication; common syndromes of problems of masculinity in men; evolution and analysis of Oedipus complex; and Koch’s postulates in psychodynamics. The passive defenses against aggression and the link with depression are fully covered. An in-depth account of the meaning of paranoid feelings is provided. The evaluation of the oedipal depression in men and women are completely presented. A chapter is devoted to the identification of transference neurosis. Another section focuses on the origin of human aggression. The analysis of phobic anxiety, anorexia nervosa, and hypochondriasis are briefly covered. The book can provide useful information to psychologists, therapists, students, and researchers.

1. Psychotherapy in Everyday Life

The Economics Student

2. Inner Mechanisms in Everyday Life

Nine Stories

The Spoilt Son

The Anthropologist and the Cat

Upsetting the Sugar

The Franciscans in the Middle Ages

Sour Grapes

Roberta in Hospital

The Social Worker and her Father

The Anatomy Viva

The Snake and the Wasp

Discussion

Expressive and Defensive Mechanisms

The Return of the Repressed

Guilt and Concern

Preliminary Summary

The Application of these Concepts to Symptoms

Depreciation or Rejection of What is Desired

Unconscious Mechanisms and Feelings

Self-Defeating and Self-Destructive Mechanisms

The Triangle of Conflict

The Effect on the Environment; Vicious Circles; Conjoint Therapy

Summary

3. Unconscious Communication

An Example of Association

Association and Emotional Significance

Unconscious and Preconscious

Free Association in Psychotherapy

Association and Communication

Unconscious Communication in Everyday Life - Sandra and the Puppies

The Neurological Patient

Rapport and its Use in Psychotherapy

The Here-and-Now; Transference

The Interior Decorator

The Girl Afraid of Breakdown

The Military Policeman

The Characteristics of Unconscious Communication

4. Elementary, though not Necessarily Easy, Psychotherapy

Recapitulation

Qualities Needed by a Therapist

The Geologist

The Question of Advice

The Influence of the Past

The Question of Therapeutic Effects

5. Elementary Psychotherapy Continued: Symptoms, Precipitating Factors, and Psychiatric Consultation

Therapeutic Effects from History-Taking: The Drama Student

The Adopted Son

The Farmer's Daughter

The Daughter with a Stroke

Retrospect of Clinical Examples

6. A Note on the Observations of Psychoanalysis

7. Common Syndromes I: Sexual Problems in Women

The Economics Student (Contd.)

Mixed Feelings about Men

The Director's Daughter

Background and Complaints

Anger with Men and with the Origin of Symptoms

Oedipal Feelings

Primitive Feelings

Envy of Men

The Pilot's Wife

8. Common Syndromes II: Problems of Masculinity in Men

The Concert-Goer

The Dental Patient

The Articled Accountant

The Minicab Driver

Discussion

The Indian Scientist

Further Discussion

The Oedipus Myth and the Male Oedipus Complex

'Castration'

Weak Fathers

Dead or Absent Fathers

The Relation with the Mother

The Oedipus Complex and Evolution

Love and Longing for the Father

The Son in Mourning

Conclusion

9. The Relation with the Therapist: 'Transference'

Recapitulation

History of Transference

The Falling Social Worker — Two Different Kinds of Transference

The Contralto: A Question of Trust

The Mother of Four: Transference in the Initial Interview

The Carpenter's Daughter: Transference in the Early Stages of Therapy

Homosexual Transference

The Son in Mourning (Contd.): Love of a Male Patient for a Male Therapist

10. The Dialog of Psychotherapy and the Two Triangles

The Basic Principles of Dynamic Psychotherapy

The Interior Decorator (Contd.), Illustrating Fluctuations in Rapport

The Question of Reassurance

The Interior Decorator (Contd.)

'Defense Should be Interpreted Before Impulse'

The Interior Decorator (Contd.)

The Two Triangles

Account of an Imaginary Therapy

First Phase: Completion of the Triangle of Conflict in Relation to the Girl-friend (O)

Second Phase: The Link with the Past (O/P Link)

Third Phase: Resistance, and the Entry of Transference

Fourth Phase: The Interpretation of the Resistance and the T/O Link

Fifth Phase: Crisis, the T/P Link, Breakthrough

Sixth Phase: The Threat of Termination, Relapse

Seventh Phase: Acting out

Eighth Phase: Over-determination — An Earlier Trauma

The Use of Dreams in Dynamic Psychotherapy

Eighth Phase (Contd.)

Final Phase: Working Through Termination, Together with the T/P Link

Comment

Summary of Principles Illustrated by 'An Imaginary Therapy'

The Two Triangles: General Principles

The Universal Technique

11. Three Linked Themes: Aggression, Elimination of Bodily Products, and Obsessional Phenomena

Recapitulation

The Concept of Constructive Aggression

The Discovery of Constructive Self-Assertion: The Almoner

The Maintenance Man and the Meaning of a Urinary Phobia

Elimination of Bodily Products

The Maintenance Man (Contd.)

Obsessional Anxiety and Fear of Aggression

The Pesticide Chemist

'Koch's Postulates' in Psychodynamics

The Meaning of Obsessional Symptoms

Aggression and Sibling Rivalry

The Divorced Mother

The Compulsion to Repeat

The Divorced Mother (Contd.)

Passive Defenses Against Aggression and the Link with Depression

12. An Introduction to Depression

Depression and Miscarried Grief - The Nurse in Mourning

The Nurse in Mourning, Initial Assessment Interview

The Therapist's Role in Acute Grief

The Nurse in Mourning, Motivation

The Nurse in Mourning, Therapy

The Issue of Ambivalence in Depression

The Meaning of Paranoid Feelings

Retrospect of Depressive Patients

Oedipal Depression in Women

Oedipal Depression in Men

The Depressed Tailor

The Son in Mourning (Contd.)

Depression and Rejected Love

Depressive Self-Reproaches

Suicide

Defensive Use of Genuine Feelings in Depression: A Man of Sorrows

The Helping Profession Syndrome

13. Regression and Long-Term Therapy

The Mental Welfare Officer

The Carpenter's Daughter (Contd.)

The Cricketer

Discussion

Regression and Dependence

'Needs' and 'Demands'

The 'Corrective Emotional Experience'

Transference and the Transference Neurosis

14. Deeper Layers of Depression

Maternal Deprivation

The Depressive Position

The Ghanaian Girl

The Mother of Four (Contd.)

The Convent Girl

The Theme of Feeding

The Irishwoman with the Cats: An Internal Persecutor

The Personnel Manager: The Depressive Position

The Treatment of Maternal Deprivation; Internal Spoiling

The Personnel Manager (Contd.)

Climax of Therapy: Reaching the Depressive Position

Termination

Follow-up

An Important Word of Caution

15. Primitive Phenomena

Psychodynamics and the Failure of Common Sense

'Fed Upon His Mother's Tears' — An Experience under LSD

The Cricketer: Attacking the Good

The Refugee Musician and the Treatment of Near-Psychotic Patients

The Technique with Near-Psychotic Patients

The Refugee Musician (Contd.)

The Depressive Position in a Paranoid Patient

Discussion

Oral, Anal, and Genital'

The Foster Son: Savagery and Closeness

The Origin of Human Aggression

16. Termination and Breaks in Treatment

Simple Gratitude as a Response to Termination — The Geologist (Contd.)

The Patient has Received Enough Help — The Gibson Girl

'Flight into Health' - the Factory Inspector

Premature Withdrawal as a Way of Avoiding Feelings about Termination — The Neurasthenic's Husband

Intense Grief and Anger — The Swiss Receptionist

The Issue of Termination Carried to the Limit — The Man with School Phobia

Coda

17. Assessment for Psychotherapy: I. General Principles

The Use of Interpretations in the Initial Interview: Trial Therapy

An Example of the Importance of Avoiding Deep Contact in the Initial Interview

Summary of the Use of Interpretations in the Initial Interview; Motivation

Conclusion

18. Assessment for Psychotherapy (Contd.): II. The Importance of the Psychiatric Inquiry and Differential Diagnosis

The Fostered Irish Girl

Phobic Anxiety

Hysteria

Obsessional Anxiety

Hypochondriasis

Psychopathy

Anorexia Nervosa

The Law of Increased Disturbance

Depression and the Question of Suicide

Paranoid and Other Psychotic Conditions

The Refugee Musician (Contd.)

Hildebrand's Excluding Factors

The Fostered Irish Girl (Contd.): Actual Diagnosis

Assessing Inner Strength and External Support

The Use of Projective Tests

Disposal and Treatment

Conclusion

19. Assessment for Psychotherapy (Contd.): III. The Psychodynamic Assessment and Psychotherapeutic Forecasting

The Film Director's Secretary

Identifying the Life Problem

Psychotherapeutic Forecasting

Severity, Strength, and Weakness

Psychotherapeutic Forecasting (Contd.): Dangers

The Question of Support

Dynamic Evidence

The Patient's Capacity and Motivation for Insight

Choice of Treatment

20. Assessment for Psychotherapy (Contd.): IV. The Indications for Brief Psychotherapy

The Man from Singapore

The Problem of Differential Psychodynamic Diagnosis

Choice of Treatment: the Criteria for Planned Brief Psychotherapy

21. Assessment for Psychotherapy (Contd.): V. Contra-Indications to Uncovering Psychotherapy

The Man from Borstal

The Man with Psychic Pain

22. Assessment for Psychotherapy (Contd.): VI. The Consequences of Making Contact

The Foster Son (Contd.)

23. Epilogue: The Future of Psychotherapy and Psychodynamics

References

Index