Toward a Socially Just Psychotherapy: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Within the Cultural Context

Psychodynamic psychotherapy has historically focused on the intrapsychic world of children and paid less attention to the extrapsychic and social systems in which they live. There is growing awareness that culture, belonging, and attachment are central to healthy identity development and that these themes must be taken into account in psychotherapy. Psychodynamic theory and practice lend themselves well to understanding how culture, and all of the identifying markers that it includes, affect child development. Psychodynamic theory and practice can be used to promote equitable health care delivery if they integrate alternative treatment models.