Psychodynamic therapy - PDT

A lot of fundamental assumptions in mental fulfilment training comes from psychodynamic psychotherapeutic theory (PDT). PDT deals with how we defend ourselves, that we are partially unaware of what we think, feel and how we behave and how we interact with those with whom we emotionally bond from the moment of birth learn how to relate to ourselves, the people around us and the environment. These ways of relating follow us in adult life and reflects onto relations in present time. We can change what is destructive within ourselves by making oneself aware of what was previously unaware and thus desolve the conflicts that have been pushed down into the unconsious.

Psychodynamic contributions to MFT

All psychic processes can be identified as belonging to either the id, the I or the superego. The id is all the impulses that we as being biological creatures need to be fulfilled without any consideration for the environment, such as sex, hunger, love, attention, sleep etc. The superego is the part of the psychic apparatus that critically, ethically and morally judges all other mental functions. The environment constantly affect us and the I´s task is to find compromises between the id, the superego and the environment so that trhe individual can reach a condition of inner and outer balance. This way of compromising demands continous activity to maintain the balance as the psyche is said to be in constant change. MFT Sweden works within the hypothesis that human spiritual life can be seen as well described by this psychodynamic model.
Dewald, P. (1969). Dynamic Psycholgy. Stockholm: Natur och kultur.

Defense mechanisms consists of automatic mental processes belonging to the I but outside its direct control. Their purpose is to protect the individual from anxiety, discomfort and other psychological pain by creating provisional solution of conflicts where a permanent solution is on it´s way but because of different reasons impossible for the moment. Defense mechanisms are developed continously from birth. Defense mechanisms that have been developed in a particular environment and that have been constructive there could compose destructive elements in another environment and thus contribute to great mental suffering. MFT Sweden see a understanding and a following restructuring of the individual´s defense as a important part of mental fulfilment training.
Davidson, P. (1989). Psychoanalytic therapy. Stockholm: Altum.

There is a line of defense mechanisms. Denial means the denial of the existece of uncomfortable facts. Projection Means attributing someone/something else your own anxiety ewoking thoughts and feelings. Introjection means that you give yourself credit for having certain desirable abilities that someone in your closeness is having but you yourself do not consist of for the moment. Afforcement means forcing away disturbing, forbidden and anxiety evoking impulses and thereby memories, fantasies and thoughts by blocking them and subsequently bind a lot of psychic energy. Rationalisation mens putting unwanted emotional discomfort into an outer logical explanations. There are many other defense mechanisms as well and all of them could be to gain and to loss for us depending on in wich context we use them. MFT Sweden works with restructuring your defenses so that they become more constructive in the environment that you are in.
Tähkä, V. (1987). Psykoanalytic psychotherapy. Stockholm: Natur och kultur.

The human conscience can have different degrees, the conscious, the preconsciuos and the subconscious. The conscious is thoughts, feelings and behaviour that we are aware of and that are in our immediate contact, the preconscious is thoughts, feelings and behaviour that we know we have access to but can not get in contact with at the moment and the subconscious is thougts, feelings and behavior that we have but are not aware of. Especially processes that are vulnerable to us are beeing forced away into the subconsciuos and protected by defense mechanisms. These withdrawn conflicts could be the foundation that psychological suffering is built on and therefore needs to be made aware and adapted in order for the suffering to decrease. MFT Sweden works with the hypothesis that these hidden conflicts could exist within most people because improving conscious process is a central part of MFT.
Freud, S. (1996). Dream interpretation. Stockholm: Natur och kultur.