Designing an Effective Psychodynamic Therapy Treatment Plan: Key Components and Example

Psychodynamic therapy is an approach greatly shaped by the foundational concepts put forth by Sigmund Freud. Over time, this method has also incorporated insights from other notable figures, such as Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Anna Freud, Erik Erikson, Wilhelm Reich, Heinz Kohut, Melanie Klein, and others. Continue reading to discover how to develop a Psychodynamic Therapy treatment plan, including an illustrative example with various elements you can include.

Typically, psychodynamic therapy is a long-term method aimed at gaining insight into a client’s unconscious mind and its influence on their present behaviors. You may delve into their hidden thoughts, desires, and memories, as well as unresolved conflicts. This form of therapy can span from one year to several years, an important consideration to discuss with your clients when considering this approach.

Explore our complete collection of Psychodynamic Therapy Worksheets

This therapeutic method can be effective for clients dealing with a variety of mental health issues. These may include anxiety, depression, psychosomatic disorders, certain personality disorders, panic attacks, eating disorders, and long-term illnesses.

Establishing Goals and Objectives in Your Psychodynamic Therapy Treatment Plan

The first step is to help the client grasp the long-term nature of psychodynamic therapy. Some may have reservations about committing to a lengthy treatment period, especially if they are aware of session limits imposed by their health insurance. Before drafting your treatment plan, review any available documentation about your clients, which may include referral forms, self-assessments, and intake assessments where relevant.

TherapyByPro is an excellent resource for mental health practitioners, offering a range of worksheets to integrate into both individual and group therapy sessions. Assessing these resources before setting your goals can spark ideas on how to incorporate this into your sessions. Some psychodynamic therapy worksheets to consider might include:

Components of a Psychodynamic Therapy Treatment Plan + Example

In the following sections, we will concentrate on drafting a treatment plan for psychodynamic therapy. Our discussion will be informed by the customizable treatment plan accessible for mental health professionals via TherapyByPro. You can also review their available therapeutic worksheets to become familiar with options that could be incorporated into various parts of your treatment plan. Keep reading to explore our hypothetical case study of John.

John’s Case:

John is a 34-year-old software engineer who is seeking help for depression. His intake forms reveal that he has been experiencing depressive symptoms for the past year, which occur nearly every day. He describes feelings of persistent low mood, apathy, diminished interest in his hobbies, poor focus, and an overwhelming sense of worthlessness and guilt. John has reported struggles with low self-esteem that have contributed to his isolation from others. He believes that his sleep disturbances have worsened his symptoms.

John recounted not having the most supportive childhood, characterizing his relationship with his parents as unstable. He mentioned that while they praised him for achievements, he often felt overlooked in daily life. His mother relied on him for emotional support, which made it difficult for him to seek help during challenging times. Although John has had serious relationships in the past, he finds it hard to provide the deep emotional connection that his partners crave.

Currently, John feels stagnant in his job. He has been overlooked for two promotions this past year, which he feels were given to less qualified individuals. This situation has led to feelings of resentment, preventing him from engaging in social events with colleagues. John has denied any suicidal thoughts and has never sought mental health support previously. His primary care physician recommended therapy during his annual check-up after learning about his mood challenges.

Involved Agencies and Care Coordination Plans

For John’s case, it is advisable to coordinate with his primary care physician, as they were the source of his referral. Always ensure the appropriate consent for communication is obtained before reaching out.

Example for John:

Care Coordination: Dr. Smith, Primary Care Physician (123) 456-7890

Clinical Diagnoses

Based on the information provided, John exhibits symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Key evidence for this diagnosis includes a noticeable lack of interest in activities he once enjoyed, sleep issues, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, as well as difficulties concentrating. His symptoms are not attributable to other mental health issues or substance use.

Examples for John:

Clinical Diagnosis: Major Depressive Disorder, Recurrent, Moderate 296.32

Current Medications and Responses

According to the information shared, John has not previously received any treatment for his mental health issues. It would be advisable to refer him for a psychological assessment and evaluation, exploring the possibility of medication to manage his symptoms. Should he start taking medications, you can update this part of your psychodynamic therapy treatment plan accordingly.

Example for John:

Current Medications: None at present

Presenting Problem and Associated Symptoms

The presenting problem section of your psychodynamic therapy treatment plan allows you to layout a case conceptualization supporting your clinical diagnosis as well as upcoming treatment plan goals and objectives. This section should bolster the goals to be outlined in the next part of your treatment plan and illustrate the use of psychodynamic therapy.

Example for John:

Presenting Problem: John is a 34-year-old male presenting with Major Depressive Disorder. He reported ongoing low mood, decreased interest in activities, fatigue, early morning awakening, difficulties concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, and social withdrawal. These symptoms began a year ago and have caused significant distress in both his professional and personal life.

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There is no evidence of substance misuse, hidden medical issues, or any past manic episodes.

John shared experiences from his childhood that suggest he faced emotional neglect and a consistent pattern of seeking approval from his parents. He mentioned that his father is often critical of him and that he had to adopt a caregiver role with his mother, leading to suppressed emotions. As a result, John has found it difficult to form close and significant relationships with romantic partners as an adult.

Psychodynamic therapy will be employed to explore how John’s depressive feelings are tied to unresolved attachment issues from his childhood and other unconscious conflicts surrounding dependency and independence. His defense mechanisms, such as repression and avoidance of emotions, have hindered his capacity to forge emotional connections with others.

Goals and Objectives

The treatment plan goals and objectives should be tailored specifically to your client, taking into account their challenges and capabilities. These objectives should correspond with the psychodynamic therapy framework. Plans can be adjusted later to reflect advancements in treatment.

Example for John:

Goal 1: Enhance Understanding of Unconscious Emotional and Interpersonal Issues

• Objective 1: John will identify and discuss two recurring patterns in his relationships that are linked to his depressive feelings. 
• Objective 2: John will reflect on his early childhood experiences and examine their influence on his current emotional state.
• Objective 3: John will connect his emotional reactions to unresolved past conflicts and discuss these insights during sessions.

Goal 2: Minimize the Use of Defense Mechanisms

• Objective 1: John will recognize two defense mechanisms he frequently relies on.
• Objective 2: John will experiment with new methods of expressing his thoughts and feelings in sessions using effective communication techniques.
• Objective 3: John will work on reducing avoidance behaviors, like withdrawing socially, and will process his experiences in therapy.

Goal 3: Enhance Interpersonal Skills and Address Unhealthy Relationship Patterns

• Objective 1: John will identify two fears or beliefs regarding intimacy and vulnerability that impact his relationships.
• Objective 2: John will investigate how his past adult relationships mirror early attachment experiences from childhood.
• Objective 3: John will pinpoint and implement one interpersonal boundary or change in relationships aimed at enhancing his social interactions.

Specific Interventions to Be Used

Specific interventions can be identified to aid in achieving the treatment goals and objectives. The TherapyByPro treatment plan template allows you to indicate who will be responsible for each task.

Example for John:

Intervention 1: Free association

Responsible Person: Counselor A and John

Intervention 2: Interpretation of recurring relationship patterns

Responsible Person: Counselor A and John

Intervention 3: Addressing discrepancies, defenses, and avoidance behaviors that John may not recognize

Responsible Person: Counselor A

Intervention 4: Analysis of transference

Responsible Person: Counselor

Intervention 5: Working through emotional content

Responsible Person: Counselor A and John

Family Involvement

Currently, it does not seem beneficial to involve John’s family members in therapy sessions. If circumstances change, the treatment plan can be updated accordingly.

Example for John:

Family Involvement: None at present

Additional Services and Interventions

Given the symptoms discussed, it would be appropriate to recommend that John undergo a psychiatric evaluation to consider medication options for symptom management.

Example For John:

Additional services: Psychiatric evaluation with Dr. Johnson, (123) 456-7890

Estimation for Completion 

As mentioned, psychodynamic therapy is typically a prolonged treatment process. This section of the treatment plan can be adapted as needed throughout John’s therapeutic journey.

Example for John:

Estimated Time for Completion: One year, subject to adjustment

Aftercare Plans

The aftercare section should outline personalized suggestions for an early discharge scenario. Various situations may necessitate this, making it a critical component to consider. You should also note local treatment providers and mental health resources that could offer support to your client.

Example for John:

Aftercare Plans: Consult with Primary Care Physician for a referral to a mental health provider in his area.

Final Thoughts on Developing a Psychodynamic Therapy Treatment Plan

Thank you for reading our article. We hope this example of a psychodynamic therapy treatment plan offers you a clearer understanding of how to create a tailored plan with the TherapyByPro template. Psychodynamic therapy can effectively address depression and depressive disorders by uncovering the root causes of symptoms, improving self-awareness, and facilitating the development of healthy emotional regulation skills, thus reducing reliance on maladaptive defenses.

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Should you wish to delve deeper into the application of psychodynamic therapy in your practice, we highly recommend checking out various continuing education and training opportunities available to you.

Check out all of our Psychodynamic Therapy Worksheets

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