Time‐Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy

Abstract

Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy (TLDP) views the client's problems in living as being maintained in a maladaptive dynamic system of interactions. The goals are to disrupt these transactional patterns and alter the client's internal working models of self and other. This chapter presents an integrative view of TLDP that strengthens its interpersonal focus by being more explicit about its attachment theory base and the centrality of dyadically created, experiential, emotionally based learning. This relational model highlights the therapist's participant-observer stance; it conceptualizes transference as plausible perceptions of the therapist's behavior and countertransference as a form of role-responsiveness that can help a therapist understand a client's dilemma. The chapter describes a method of formulating and strategies for intervening, and provides clinical examples and supporting empirical evidence.