Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in Sydney
Welcome to Soothing Care Clinic, where Dr. Azadeh Azadi, MD, FRANZCP, offers specialised psychodynamic therapy to help you find lasting relief from emotional struggles.
What is the Difference Between CBT and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy?
Both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy aim to alleviate symptoms and address challenges arising from mental health concerns. However, their approaches differ significantly.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a structured, goal-oriented therapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. It seeks to produce change in the present by:
- Replacing dysfunctional thoughts with rational, constructive beliefs.
- Developing practical strategies to manage specific challenges and symptoms.
CBT prioritises practical, short-term symptom management rather than exploring deeper motivations or unconscious causes of the problem.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy takes a more exploratory approach. In addition to addressing symptoms, it aims to uncover underlying reasons for the problem, which may include:
- Conscious and unconscious factors: Examining both what you are aware of and what lies beneath conscious awareness.
- Interpersonal and intrapsychic dynamics: Exploring how relationships and internal psychological processes influence your difficulties.
This approach fosters deeper self-awareness and understanding of how past experiences and unresolved conflicts contribute to present challenges, aiming for long-term growth alongside symptom relief.
To put it very simply, cognitive Behavioural Therapy is about managing the here and now, while psychodynamic psychotherapy dives into the why to help you understand and grow.