Psychotherapy based on depth psychology

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The psychodynamic psychotherapy (TP) is a form of psychotherapy and in addition to the behavioral therapy , the analytical psychotherapy and systemic therapy one of those psychotherapies that in Germany by the Federal Joint Committee social legislation billing capability in the health insurance are recognized. It is based on the theoretical foundations of psychoanalysis and its further developments.

method

The therapist and patient usually sit opposite each other. A couch like the one Freud used in his psychoanalysis is usually not used. The duration of a therapy is usually 60 sessions, with extensions being approved in individual cases by the health insurance companies . The therapy sessions usually take place once or twice a week, but the individual timing is always based on the requirements of the specific case. Methods based on depth psychology can also be practiced as group therapy , but this is unusual in the outpatient area.

Basic assumptions

The TP is based on basic psychological assumptions. The word part “depth” in depth psychology refers both to the hidden depth of the unconscious (unconscious or misunderstood desires, motives and conflicts) as well as to the “depth of time”, i.e. the ongoing influences from childhood and youth. In the context of the TP, it is assumed that deep-seated, unconscious psychological processes have an effect on the psychological health of people. From this point of view, unconscious conflicts or repressed experiences are a useful starting point for treating mental disorders . In contrast to behavior therapy , the focus is much less on directly influencing the behavior of the patient, but on clarifying the underlying causes, which should indirectly or subsequently reduce the symptoms.

Scientific and legal

Status in the German healthcare system

The TP was developed in Germany at the end of the 1960s in cooperation with the statutory health insurance companies and, along with behavioral therapy (VT), is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy performed at health insurance costs. It is used to treat mental disorders and is primarily practiced by licensed psychotherapists . Their effectiveness has been proven for many psychological indications . In other countries there is no direct equivalent to psychotherapy based on depth psychology, but there are often similar concepts with different names (e.g. psychodynamic therapy). Since treatments through psychotherapy based on depth psychology in Germany are covered by the statutory health insurance when a mental disorder with disease value is present, several types of psychotherapy are now assigned to the TP that were not originally based on psychoanalysis. In addition to the analytical background, there are e.g. B. also institutes that come from the humanistic direction and work in depth psychology. The interests of the TP are represented by various professional organizations, including a. by the German Society for Depth Psychology-Based Psychotherapy e. V. (DFT) (see web link and list of psychotherapeutic specialist and professional associations ).

Scientific classification

The therapeutic methodology of TP has many similarities with psychoanalysis , but differs in the therapeutic attitude, the treatment frequency, the duration of treatment and the setting. In some cases, the same basic theoretical concepts as well as some techniques for treatment (namely confrontation, clarification / clarification and interpretation) are used. An analysis of "resistance" and "transference" (two important aspects in psychoanalysis) takes place as well as in analytical psychotherapy and classical psychoanalysis. In contrast to classical psychoanalysis, however, the regression is very limited in the TP, free association and other features of the psychoanalytic technique are significantly softened in favor of a more active therapeutic and transparent attitude, in some cases even given up.

Conflict- related transference patterns are sought in the patient's external relationships and processed there in the here-and-now of real relationships (e.g. to the partner, the boss, etc.). The focus of the therapy is on re-actualized unconscious conflicts triggered by current life events (temptation or failure situations), which currently lead to the formation of compromises in the form of disease-related symptoms. The processing of such conflicts, which originate from the past, in particular from the early childhood of the patient (basic conflicts), are dealt with in depth psychologically founded therapy (but not as much as in the classical analysis, this would be with the help of strong regression and resistance and transference analysis in analytical psychotherapy). The psychoanalytical concepts of the dynamic unconscious, of resistance, transference and countertransference are used therapeutically by depth psychologically well-founded therapists, in particular the countertransference is also reflected. In therapeutic practice, the patient and the psychotherapist work goal-oriented along specific problems. The goals and topics are discussed with one another, there is greater transparency with regard to the therapy process than is the case with analytical psychotherapy.

With rules that have changed compared to the classic psychoanalytic technique (including only one, a maximum of two therapy sessions per week or less, treatment while sitting instead of lying down, lower maximum number of therapy hours), the TP strives for more limited goals in a limited time (reduction of symptoms instead of personality changes, limited insight in internal conflicts). In contrast to psychoanalytic treatment, the focus is more on the "here and now" and not on the detailed processing of life and problem histories.

The psychotherapy based on depth psychology forms according to Section 16 of the German Psychotherapy Guideline, together with analytical psychotherapy, defines the group of psychoanalytically based procedures. Both psychotherapy based on depth psychology and analytical psychotherapy differed (in some cases considerably) from psychoanalysis. Both procedures are scientifically recognized by the relevant advisory board after examination. The Scientific Advisory Board for Psychotherapy also recommends combining both procedures into a single procedure called psychodynamic psychotherapy and thus also standardizing the training, so that training and practicing psychotherapy based on depth psychology alone would no longer be possible (standard would then be the currently so-called integrated training in analytical and depth psychologically founded psychotherapy).

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ therapie.de: Psychotherapy based on depth psychology. Accessed April 10, 2014
  2. ↑ Thomas Kornbichler: The depth psychologically founded psychotherapy: a practical orientation aid. Kreuz Verlag 2006
  3. ↑ Psychotherapy based on depth psychology. In: Deutsches Ärzteblatt 1998; 95 (31-32): A-1909 / B-1641 / C-1525
  4. ↑ Wolfgang Wöller: Psychotherapy based on depth psychology: basic book and practical guide. Stuttgart, 2007.
  5. ↑ Eva Jaeggi , Volker Riegels: Techniques and theory of depth psychologically founded psychotherapy. Stuttgart, 2008.
  6. ↑ Guideline of the Federal Joint Committee on the Implementation of Psychotherapy (Psychotherapy Guideline). (PDF; 186 KB) Psychotherapy Guideline Status: February 16, 2017. Federal Joint Committee, February 16, 2017, accessed on September 24, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Scientific Advisory Board Psychotherapy : Statement on Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Adults. November 11, 2004, accessed September 24, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Scientific Advisory Board for Psychotherapy: Supplement to the opinion on psychodynamic psychotherapy of June 30, 2008. June 30, 2008, accessed on September 24, 2018 .