From psychoanalytic roots to modern psychotherapy: understanding the psychodynamic approach

Published in Blog by Tavistock Relationships on 26 August 2026

If you have ever explored different approaches to psychotherapy, you will probably have come across cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), one of the most widely recognised forms of psychotherapy. But what about psychodynamic psychotherapy? For an approach with such a long history, the psychodynamic modality has sometimes found itself stuck in a quieter place amongst conversations about psychotherapeutic treatment.

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is grounded in the psychoanalytic tradition but encompasses a range of approaches that can differ in frequency, duration and intensity. Unlike traditional psychoanalysis, which is typically more intensive, psychodynamic psychotherapy may be offered on a short- or long-term basis, often with weekly sessions. At its very core, the psychodynamic approach explores our internal worlds, emotional themes and recurring patterns that are predominantly outside of one's awareness but which may be contributing to the quality (or lack thereof) of one's relationships both with oneself and others.

Throughout sessions, recurring themes, behaviours, symptoms and underlying patterns can gradually come into clearer consciousness. These are reflected back to the individual to help deepen their understanding of themselves as a whole, bringing greater awareness to parts of themselves that may have been buried or fragmented, and to recurring emotional themes and patterns that could be challenging or too threatening for an individual to understand.

The therapeutic relationship is central to the clinical skills and practice of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Within the safety and containment of the psychodynamic psychotherapy, the individual can begin to explore thoughts, feelings and ways of relating that may otherwise have been defended against, or difficult to comprehend.

It is through this deeper understanding that we can begin to feel more empowered and develop a new template for relating which offers up the possibility of long-term change.

What does the evidence tell us?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy has been studied extensively through clinical trials and systematic reviews with research which has examined its effectiveness across a range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, personality disorders and somatic disorders.¹

A widely cited 2010 review by Jonathan Shedler brought together research on the effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapy and found evidence supporting its efficacy.²

In 2017, an equivalence meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Psychiatry compared psychodynamic therapy with other established psychological treatments and found no significant difference in overall outcomes. In other words, psychodynamic therapy was not shown to be a lesser alternative to other evidence-based approaches.³

More recent research has further examined the evidence. A 2023 umbrella review published in World Psychiatry brought together findings from existing meta-analyses and further examined the evidence for psychodynamic psychotherapy across common mental disorders.⁴

Why does this matter now?

As digital mental health platforms rapidly evolve, and quick fix, ‘cookie-cutter’ exercises become increasingly available through various apps, it reinforces why high quality, in-depth psychodynamic psychotherapy remains so important.

At the heart of the approach is the therapeutic relationship itself, it offers up a reparative experience built on safety, trust and the clinical experience of a highly trained therapist.

Our training excellence

Alongside our clinical service, we train the next generation of psychotherapists. Our students work in depth to develop their understanding through teaching, skills workshops, clinical practice and supervision, and develop a sensitivity to sitting with ambiguity or uncertainty which is key to thinking psychodynamically.

For someone considering psychotherapy training, psychodynamic psychotherapy is suited to those willing to work in depth and to look beyond the presenting issue.

It blends together theory and clinical practice, while developing the ability to think in layers and understand the deeper early relational templates that shape how a person experiences themselves and relates to others.

At Tavistock Relationships, we offer psychodynamic training at entry level, from introductory courses and foundation training through to our highly popular MA programmes and Advanced Standing trainings.

View counselling psychotherapy courses

References

1. Fonagy, P. (2015). The effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapies: An update. World Psychiatry, 14(2), 137–150.
   
   
2. Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98–109.
   
   
3. Steinert, C., Munder, T., Rabung, S., Hoyer, J., & Leichsenring, F. (2017). Psychodynamic therapy: As efficacious as other empirically supported treatments? A meta-analysis testing equivalence of outcomes. American Journal of Psychiatry, 174(10), 943–953.
   
   
4. Leichsenring, F., Abbass, A., Heim, N., Keefe, J. R., Kisely, S., Luyten, P., Rabung, S., & Steinert, C. (2023). The status of psychodynamic psychotherapy as an empirically supported treatment for common mental disorders – an umbrella review based on updated criteria. World Psychiatry, 22(2), 286–304.