Psychodynamic Therapy in Austin, TX | Alpha Behavioral Health
Psychodynamics is one way to address serious conditions like substance use disorder and addiction. Addiction and substance abuse often stem from a place of trauma and pain. It’s common for the brain to block painful memories and thoughts as a defense mechanism. Though these thoughts and memories are blocked, they still affect a person’s subconscious, which can express itself in the waking world. Understanding these unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories can often be the key to understanding the underlying cause of many disorders, including substance abuse, depression, and anxiety.
That’s why Alpha Behavioral Health utilizes psychodynamic therapy and psychodynamics to treat teens and young adults struggling with addiction and other mental health disorders. It’s not just a place to recover from serious addictions, such as alcohol or opioids, but a place to build confidence, encourage personal development, and improve social skills.
What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy is a holistic therapeutic approach that helps clients understand how their subconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories affect their current behavior. Clients are encouraged to examine and process unresolved emotions and feelings. This is done by investigating their unconscious mind to promote self-awareness and interpret newly accessed thoughts. Though similar to other psychotherapies, there are some differences.
Psychodynamics utilizes therapists as a guide, with the patient setting the pace and tone rather than having a patient follow set guidelines. Common techniques used by a psychodynamic therapist are:
Free Association: This technique is used to identify patterns that may influence a person’s thoughts and feelings. Clients are encouraged to explore their thoughts and emotions. This is done by speaking freely without censorship in a therapeutic setting. Psychodynamics is a client-driven process, allowing clients to freely express themselves with only a little guidance from their psychodynamic therapist.
Projective Tests: This technique uses tests such as word association or inkblot tests to help clients identify subconscious thoughts and feelings. Such tests can be useful in identifying patterns or specific emotional connections.
Dream Analysis: This technique examines and guides a client through their dreams to understand hidden fears and meanings. This is especially important for clients with chronic nightmares or who are distressed by reoccurring or upsetting dreams. Though subjective, this technique can help identify areas of the client’s mind that could use relief and growth.
Psychodynamic therapy is typically used by patients struggling with anxiety, depression, and substance dependence. The goal of the therapist is to identify these underlying causes, especially subconscious ones. Psychodynamic therapy is also used to examine self-conflicts, which can aid in personal development.
Understanding the Unconscious Mind and Behavior
Our subconscious thoughts and behaviors greatly influence how we behave in the waking world. The experiences we go through shape our unconscious mind. Some experiences leave wounds that cannot be seen but certainly can be felt. For example, avoidant behaviors often stem from past pain. If a person expects that they are going to be in pain, they will take steps to avoid it. Commonly, this results in self-medication behaviors, which can lead to a risk of addiction.
Our unconscious mind also plays a role in how we can rest. Chronic nightmares and night terrors disrupt sleep and make it difficult to get proper sleep. Using psychodynamics to address the unconscious mind can reduce the frequency of interrupted sleep. Nightmares can be another contributor to self-medicating, so the reduction of nightmares can reduce substance dependence.
Overall, the subconscious mind and behaviors influence brain and cognition health. A reduction in functioning doesn’t just make a person more likely to self-medicate. The health of a person’s subconscious can have a direct influence on their general health. Poor mental health opens up a person to disease, compromised immunity, and a general reduction in overall functioning.
The Therapeutic Relationship: Building Trust and Insight
Therapy is not effective if the client cannot trust their treatment provider. Psychodynamics is an especially sensitive subject as it deals with a client’s deepest thoughts, fears, experiences, and desires. It can be a very private and deeply intimate process that unravels individuals’ unconscious minds. As such, the building of trust and mutual understanding is critical for psychodynamic therapy to work.
Alpha Behavioral Health works to foster a deep level of trust between provider and client through individual counseling. This is done by establishing a safe and encouraging zone with zero judgment allowed. Here, clients can be honest and open without fear. Though it can take time, it’s always worth making sure a client is comfortable and safe before beginning therapy.
Benefits of Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy can have several positive effects on an individual. On the surface, it can reduce the frequency and intensity of nightmares. Those undergoing psychodynamics may also see an increase in their cognitive functioning and social skills. However, this therapy offers other important benefits that aid in the recovery of substance abuse and addiction.
Gaining Insight into Emotions and Behaviors
Sometimes, we act in ways that we don’t understand. Some emotional responses to some stimuli can be equally surprising. Psychodynamics digs deep down to discover the underlying causes of these emotions and behaviors. Addressing them with compassion and understanding allows the client to thoroughly examine these feelings and behaviors. After psychodynamic therapy is complete, clients have a better understanding of themselves, which increases confidence during treatment.
Enhancing Emotional Resilience and Coping Skills
It’s not just important to be aware of one’s subconscious feelings and behaviors. They must also be able to cope with them without turning to substance abuse. Psychodynamic therapy assists in improving social skills and confidence through building resilience and teaching coping skills. Doing so offers an avenue of personal development that can reduce the risk of relapse once treatment is complete. Not just that, it also helps clients become more well-rounded and mindful individuals.
Psychodynamic Therapy for Substance Abuse
For those struggling with substance dependence and abuse, psychodynamic therapy can be the catalyst for lasting change. This is accomplished by addressing the root causes of addiction, creating a roadmap for change, and establishing ways to prevent a relapse. When combined with other therapeutic tools like attachment therapy, clients can receive the comprehensive care they need for complete healing and recovery.
Addressing the Root Causes of Addiction
Addiction is often the result of pain. However, peer pressure, genetics, environment, and family history can all play a role in the development of substance dependence and abuse. Using substances is done to mask the uncomfortable feelings associated with these factors. Over time, this becomes a dependence and eventually an addiction.
Psychodynamics can uncover these underlying root causes, especially when they are repressed or buried in the unconscious mind. Trauma, abuse, observing substance abuse from family, and more can be uncovered through psychodynamic techniques. Once these problems are brought to light, they can be effectively treated, no matter how deeply buried they may be.
Preventing Relapse Through Self-Understanding
Part of psychodynamics is helping clients recognize patterns that could jeopardize their recovery and prepare for sober living. Relapse can occur because a person is overwhelmed and is looking for a quick way to reduce the discomfort they feel. It’s quick and easy to abuse a substance but harder to utilize a healthy coping skill. Instilling healthy habits and responses to difficulty makes it easier to deal with triggers outside a therapeutic environment.
Psychodynamic therapy also teaches clients how to recognize when they are at risk for relapse and the steps they can take to mitigate said risk. With enough training through psychodynamic therapy, a client can be well aware of themselves, their limitations, and the personal strength they have to reduce the risk of relapse. It’s equal parts emotional awareness and applying learned coping skills when needed. Together, these aspects of psychodynamics keep clients safe.
Psychodynamic Therapy for Adolescents and Young Adults
Teens and young adults are at a critical junction of development. It’s a time when they start figuring out who they are and seek independence. They are also some of the most vulnerable of the population and can struggle with traumatic events, unstable homes, or intense peer pressure.
Psychodynamics works well with this age group because it’s sensitive. Teens and young adults can have their needs addressed without feeling dismissed or disrespected. Sometimes, knowing that your feelings and experiences are validated, even if they are subconscious, can bring immense relief and foster healing.
Tailored Approaches for Teens and Young Adults
As mentioned before, teens and young adults are at the crossroads of their lives. Care must be taken to be sensitive to their needs and uplift, not pull them down. It’s a delicate balance between holding one accountable for their actions and convincing them that they have immense power inside of them. They may not be completely mature, but they often feel like they are, so respect and understanding are crucial to fostering open communication and preventing defensive behavior.
Psychodynamics can also be applied to matters that directly concern teens and young adults, such as school, finding a job, or getting along with their family. For young adult men, the transitional living program also utilizes psychodynamic techniques. This program assists young men in transitioning from treatment into normal life, which comes with its stressors and difficulties. Psychodynamic therapy helps clients transition by increasing cognition and encouraging healthy emotional regulation.
Teens and young adults are also at a time when their hormones are wild, and their brains are in their final development. As a result, emotional and behavioral regulation can be especially difficult. Psychodynamics allows teens and young adults to better understand their emotions and behaviors while teaching the skills to manage them healthily.
Integrating Attachment Theory in Therapy
Attachment theory states that our past experiences shape the types of relationships we have as adults. Trauma and other negative events can result in an attachment disorder, which makes it difficult to form healthy bonds with others. Psychodynamics works well with attachment theory by helping clients uncover deeply buried memories and feelings that are influencing their ability to form healthy attachments. By helping clients work through these memories and feelings, they can reset the clock and start again with a healthier outlook on life. Psychodynamics combined with attachment theory helps clients make the changes they need to have healthy and meaningful relationships.
The Therapeutic Process at Alpha Behavioral Health
Alpha Behavioral Health is a holistic treatment facility that assists teens and young adults in their recovery journey. By combining holistic and evidence-based practices, clients can gain the custom-tailored treatment plans needed for successful recovery. Including treatments like psychodynamic therapy ensures that every client has access to the best therapies currently available. The more options they have, the more treatment can be better tailored to their unique needs and experiences. With transitional and aftercare programs like the Alpha Launch program, clients are cared for during and after treatment is complete.
However, treatment cannot begin unless professional help is accepted. The first step on the long journey to recovery can be hard, but Alpha Behavioral Health is here through each step. All you have to do is reach out for help to be the person we believe you can be.
Psychodynamic therapy can be the key to reducing pain and fear in those recovering from addiction. To learn more about addiction treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health, call (833) 257-4218 today.