Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy fosters a supportive environment where clients can explore the underlying causes of their addiction and mental health challenges in person or within a group context. It is one of Rowan House’s core therapies. Group dynamics additionally provide a sense of camaraderie and a deeper sense of connection for members sharing their experiences. The emergence of mutual support can provide a sense of belonging and greater connectivity. This is especially valuable for participants who may be dealing with social anxiety issues.

Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in the client’s present behavior. The goals of psychodynamic therapy are improved self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior. In its brief form which we use at Rowan House, the psychodynamic approach enables the client to examine unresolved conflicts and symptoms that arise from past dysfunctional relationships and manifest themselves in the need and desire to abuse substances.

Several different approaches to brief psychodynamic psychotherapy have evolved from psychoanalytic theory and have been clinically applied to a wide range of psychological disorders. A growing body of research supports the efficacy of these approaches (Crits-Christoph, 1992; Messer and Warren, 1995).

Short-term psychodynamic therapies make a valuable contribution to the range of treatments for substance abuse disorders. Brief psychodynamic therapies are perhaps more helpful after abstinence is well established. Brief Psychodynamic Therapy is more appropriate for some types of clients with substance abuse disorders than others. For some, psychodynamic therapy is best undertaken when they are well along in recovery and are receptive to a higher level of self-knowledge. So in that respect it is an ideal therapy for Rowan House clients, as typically, they match the following criteria:

• Those who have coexisting mental health issues with their substance abuse disorder
• Those who do not need or who have completed inpatient hospitalization or detoxification
• Those whose recovery is stable
• Those who do not have organic brain damage or other limitations due to their mental capacity