The role of therapist activity in psychodynamic psychotherapy

The teaching of psychodynamic psychotherapy is a critical component of psychiatric residency training programs. The authors argue that encouraging our residents to become active while providing psychodynamic psychotherapy is a skill that can be taught. By helping residents to understand how to actively help patients focus on their internal world, identify and work with the defenses, and develop and maintain a treatment alliance, psychodynamic educators can enable psychiatric residents to feel far more competent when working in this paradigm. Such a stance inevitably leads to greater excitement and enjoyment for trainees, as well as better outcomes for patients.