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  • Chapter 6 - The Goals of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

  • from Part 2: - The Model of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy into Practice
  • Adam Polnay, The State Hospital, Carstairs and Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh, Rhiannon Pugh, Victoria Barker, East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, David Bell, British Psychoanalytic Society, Allan Beveridge, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, Adam Burley, Rivers Centre, Edinburgh, Allyson Lumsden, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, C. Susan Mizen, Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Lauren Wilson, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh
  • Foreword by Nancy McWilliams
  • Book:
    Cambridge Guide to Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
    Published online:
    25 August 2023
    Print publication:
    10 August 2023, pp 89-97

  • Summary

    This chapter commences with a brief description of the complexities conceptualising goals in psychodynamic psychotherapy as they differ across different schools. In addition, some goals are inferred rather than being explicit. Nonetheless, the author goes on to delineate goals which are relevant to early, middle, and end stages of a course of psychodynamic therapy. These include promotion of a positive alliance, a description of ‘common factors’ in therapy, and also some relevant technical goals. Final stage goals consist of management of the ending and enabling the ability to mourn the lost good object of the therapist. An alternative framework to conceptualising goals is presented in terms of symptom relief, life adjustment, personality change, and use of relevant procedures as being necessary. Clinical vignettes are used to illustrate these concepts. Finally, there is a brief section on current contributions from neuroscience specifically related to psychodynamic psychotherapy.