Advanced Counselling Theories: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

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INTRODUCTION Advanced Counselling Theories: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (PP) rooted from traditional psychoanalysis theories. PP operates with the basic assumption that focuses on unconscious processes, recognising how a person’s behaviour and feelings in the present rooted from childhood experiences in the past. The objective of PP is to facilitate client to reach self-awareness and to have a better understanding of the problems by identifying the origin of the issues as well as underlying causes that may be present. PP places heavy emphasis on client’s relationships and interpersonal experience (Shedler, 2010). The approach of PP acknowledge the importance of therapeutic alliance. Meissner (1999) suggests that the “components of the therapeutic relationship include transference and its correlative, countertransference, the real relationship, and the therapeutic alliance”. The establishment of a therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client that is open, non-judgmental and empathic serve as the basis of new internalisations. It allows the client to develop trust towards the therapist and bring about collaboration to work together to address the issues towards a healthier resolution (Chua, 2017). The Case Study This paper discusses the application of PP in the case study of Mei Lin, a 36-year-old Chinese-Singaporean who presented an issue with her marriage. Mei Lin thinks that her husband is always putting her down and