This document discusses several contemporary trends in psychotherapy including object relations theory, self psychology, and relational psychoanalysis. It also covers stages of development in psychoanalysis like the separation-individuation phase. Contemporary trends emphasize establishing a strong therapeutic alliance early on and focusing treatment on personality disorders rather than just neurotic disorders. Brief, time-limited psychodynamic therapy is also discussed as an approach to meet modern challenges while retaining a focus on inner life.

1. CONTEMPORARY TRENDS:
OBJECT-RELATIONS THEORY,
SELF PSYCHOLOGY,
RELATIONAL PSYCHOANALYSIS
Submitted to:
Prof. Agnes Montalbo
Rizal Technological University
Submitted by:
Kimberly T. Navarro

2. Contemporary Trends
Ego Psychology – with its stress on
psychosocial development throughout
the life span, and it was developed by
Erikson.

3.  Object-Relations Theory – is a form of
analytic treatment that involves exploration
or internal unconscious identification and
internalizations of external objects.

4.  Self- Psychology – Traditional Psychoanalysis
assumes that the Analyst can discover and name
the “truth” about Clients.

5.  Relational Model – is based on the
assumption that therapy is an interactive
process between client and therapist.

6. SUMMARY OF STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
Normal infantile autism – 3 or 4
weeks infant is presumed to be
responding more to states of
physiological tension than to
psychological processes.

7. Symbiosis - is recognizable by the 3rd
month and extends roughly through the
8th month.

8. Separation-individuation - process
begins in the 4th or 5th month this time
the child moves away from symbiotic
forms of relating.

9.  Narcissistic Personality – is characterized
by a grandiose and exaggerated sense of
self-importance and an exploitive attitude
toward others, which serve the function of
masking a frail self-concept.

10. Borderline – People with a borderline
personality disorder have moved into
the separation process but have been
thwarted by parental rejection of their
individuation.

11.  Treating Borderline and Narcissistic
Disorder – Borderline and narcissistic
disorders seem to be rooted in traumas and
developmental disturbances during the
separation-individuation phase.

12. SOME DIRECTION OF CONTEMPORARY
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
* Increased attention is being given to disturbances
during childhood and adolescence.

13. * The emphasis on treatment has shifted from
the “classical” interest in curing neurotic
disorders to the problems of dealing
therapeutically with chronic personality
disorders, borderline conditions, and
narcissistic personality disorders.

14. * Increased attention is being paid to
establishing a good therapeutic alliance
early in the therapy. A collaborative
working relationship is now viewed as a
key factor in a positive therapeutic
outcome.

15. THE TREND TOWARD BRIEF, TIME- LIMITED
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
Many psychoanalytically oriented therapist
are attempting to creatively meet modern
challenges while retaining their original
focus on depth and inner life.

16. COMMON CHARACTERISTIC AND
DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO BRIEF
PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY
 Work within the framework of time-limited therapy
 Target a specific interpersonal problem during the initial session.
 Assume a less neutral therapeutic stance than is true of traditional
analytic approaches.
 Established a strong working alliance.
 Use interpretation relatively early in the therapy relationship.