brief psychodynamic psychotherapy

a set of time-limited psychodynamic psychotherapy approaches intended to enhance client self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior. One particularly important issue is identified as the central focus for the treatment, thus creating a structure and establishing a goal for the sessions. Rather than allowing the client to associate freely and discuss seemingly unconnected issues, the brief psychodynamic therapist is expected to be fairly active in keeping the session focused on the main issue. The number of sessions varies from one approach to another, but the therapy is typically considered to involve no more than 25 sessions. Also called short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. [originally developed by Hungarian psychoanalyst Franz Alexander (1891–1964) and U.S. physician Thomas Morton French (b. 1892)]

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Psychology term of the day

January 15th 2025

transitional living

a supervised living situation that allows patients with psychiatric or neurological disorders to make the transition from the dependence of a hospital setting to greater independence before returning to fully independent living.