NRNP 6645 Week 4 Exploring Psychodynamic Theories

Contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy, also referred to as psychoanalytic therapy, is rooted in Dr. Sigmund Freud’s proposal that unconscious thought processes, or thoughts and feelings outside of our conscious awareness, are responsible for mental health issues. This therapeutic approach is unique because its goal is to help patients achieve changes in personality and emotional development.

Like most therapeutic approaches, however, psychodynamic psychotherapy is not appropriate for every patient. In your role as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, you must be able to properly assess patients to determine whether this therapeutic approach would improve their clinical outcomes.

This week, you explore psychodynamic psychotherapy and examine the application of current literature to clinical practice.

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Learning Resources – NRNP 6645 Week 4 Exploring Psychodynamic Theories

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.)

For reference as needed

Nichols, M., & Davis, S. D. (2020). The essentials of family therapy (7th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 8, “Psychoanalytic Family Therapy”

Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing.

Chapter 5, “Supportive and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”

Review the sections on psychodynamic therapy only.

Chapter 21, “Psychotherapeutic Approaches with Children and Adolescents”

pp. 790–791 only

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

Alexander Street. (2014, February 24). Jungian play therapy and sandplay with children: Myth, mandala, and meaning [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOj4MPCFiDU

Grande, T. (2016, January 29). Adlerian therapy role-play – “Acting as if” technique [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsp3JZ4uYF4

Grande, T. (2016, February 23). Psychodynamic therapy role-play – Defense mechanisms and free association [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9fF9F5w1cI

PsychotherapyNet. (2018, December 7). Youtube Kernberg psychoanalytic psychotherapy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkYIdEO4jQg

Optional Resources

Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2013). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice [Video]. https://waldenu.kanopy.com/video/counseling-and-psychotherapy-theories-contex

Psychodynamic Therapy (starts at 3 minutes)

Exploring Psychodynamic Theories

When thinking of classic Freudian techniques, what images come to mind? Perhaps the omniscient Freud smoking a pipe, sitting behind a client, passively taking notes—or troubled clients lying sprawled on a couch, speaking about their sexuality or early experiences in dealing with aggression or angst.

Though many associate all psychodynamic theories with well-known images of Freudian psychoanalysis, the works of Jung, Adler, and other prominent psychodynamic theorists took strides to significantly depart from Freud’s theory of personality and therapy. Modern psychodynamic approaches place the therapist across from the patient, actively engaging the patient in the psychotherapeutic process.

During this process, however, therapists place much focus on the unconscious mind and past relationships of the patient—a focus unique to psychodynamic theories.

This week there is no assessment, but you will explore unique interventions and strategies derived from the psychodynamic theoretical approach through the Learning Resources.

Also Read:

NRNP 6645 Week 8 Assignment Psychotherapy for Clients With Addictive Disorders

NRNP 6645 Week 6 Supportive and Interpersonal Psychotherapy

NRNP 6645 Week 4 Exploring Psychodynamic Theories