Psychodynamic therapy is the most effective way of treating Maggie’s depression for various reasons. This technique creates the client’s awareness of how the unconscious mind influences a person’s perception and interpretation of external reality, thus, creating depressive thoughts (Luyten " Blatt, 2012). This person-centered therapeutic approach helps patients to understand how their past experiences influence their current feelings, decisions, and motives. Unlike psychoanalytical therapy, which focuses on the relationship between the therapist and the client, this approach explores the relationship between an individual and his or her external world. Importantly, psychodynamic therapy is more effective in treating Maggie’s depression than cognitive behavioral therapy since it determines the root of the problem rather than analyze current stressful events and conditions.
In this case study, the main problem to be considered in using psychodynamic theory is the root of Maggie’s depression. These problems may have been caused by her childhood, teenagehood, and adulthood experiences. These experiences are responsible for both the conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings of discontentment as well as expectations that surpass her current abilities leading to depression. Maggie is struggling with depression as a result of being discontented with her work performance. She has always set high standards in whatever she pursues; a habit that has frustrated her.
According to Luyten and Blatt (2012), psychodynamic therapy creates the client’s awareness of how the unconscious mind influences his or her perception and interpretation of external reality, thus, creating depressive thoughts. This approach will help Maggie to understand that she has developed depressive thoughts due to her perception of the external environment. She views her world as a place of competition and standards which put unwanted pressure on her. It is for this reason that a drop in her performance makes her feel worthlessness, and shameful. Luyten and Blatt (2012) also note that psychodynamic therapy is useful in analyzing the past experiences that influence a person’s current feelings, decisions, and motives. The sessions will, therefore, help Maggie to reflect on past experiences by identifying patterns in her emotions, beliefs, and thoughts that may have been influenced by past experiences.
Maggie’s treatment of depression will take a period of three to four months and a total of about 16 sessions. Each session will last about 50 minutes. However, the treatment may exceed this duration depending on her rate of recovery. The primary goal of psychodynamic therapy will be for Maggie to understand how and why unresolved unconscious conflicts that stem from her childhood experienced are responsible for her current state by talking about them. Typically, Maggie will sit up on a couch or chair, and the therapist will be out of sight to facilitate self-reflection. She will explore childhood factors that may have contributed to her self-criticism, a sense of worthlessness, and shame. For instance, did she grow up in an environment where everyone had high expectations in her, thus, putting a lot of pressure on her to perform well academically and socially? Resolving such issues will help her better manage and cope with her feelings.
In my opinion, the psychodynamic approach to the treatment of Maggie’s depression is effective as it reconciles the conflicts that arise due to unconscious thoughts and current negative emotions and beliefs. This therapy does not perceive depression as a mental disorder but a situation whereby childhood experiences contribute to current depressive thoughts. In this case, psychodynamic therapy is the most effective way of treating Maggie’s as it helps in resolving her current emotions and beliefs by understanding her past experiences.
Reference
Luyten, P., " Blatt, S. J. (2012). Psychodynamic treatment of depression. Psychiatric Clinics, 35(1), 111-129.
