In the article “Therapy Wars – The Revenge of Freud” published in The Guardian, Oliver Burkeman explores the effectiveness of psychodynamic approaches, including both depth psychology and psychoanalysis. Burkeman addresses common prejudices against psychoanalysis and sheds light on the academic preference for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He presents remarkable results from current therapy research that highlight the lasting effectiveness of psychodynamic approaches.
A comprehensive scientific review on the long-term effectiveness and mechanisms of psychodynamic psychotherapy can be found here:
“The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”
Author: Jonathan K. Shedler, PhD
Institution: University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
Publication: American Psychologist, Vol. 65, No. 2
This study impressively demonstrates that psychodynamic psychotherapy can lead to positive changes not only in the short term but also in the long term. It also shows that deep insight, emotional processing, and working through unconscious conflicts lead to sustainable therapeutic success.
