The Role of the

‘Unconscious’ in
Psychodynamic
Therapy
What you need to know:

1. There are 3 ‘levels of mind’:

- The Preconscious (information that is
not in our immediate awareness)
- The Conscious (thoughts, ideas,
memories, feelings and desires that we
are aware of)
- The Unconscious (feelings, desires or
urges, and memories that are outside of
conscious awareness)

2. “Most of the contents of the unconscious

are unacceptable or unpleasant, such as
feelings of pain, anxiety, or conflict.

According to Freud, the unconscious

continues to influence our behavior and
experience, even though we are unaware of
these underlying influences.
The unconscious can include repressed
feelings, hidden memories, habits,
thoughts, desires, and reactions” (Cherry, VeryWellMind,
2018)

3. Psychodynamic Psychotherapy has an

assumption that ‘uncovering’ unconscious
feelings, motives, and desires and bringing
them into the person’s conscious
awareness, can create healing environment
for the client

Useful Websites:

‘Attending to the Unconscious in a Psychotherapy Session’

by Psychology Today (K.L.Smith): https://
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/full-living/201605/
attending-the-unconscious-in-psychotherapy-session

‘The Neuropsychology of the Unconscious: Integrating Brain

& Mind in Psychotherapy’ by PsychCentral (E.Ginot):
https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-neuropsychology-of-the-
unconscious-integrating-brain-mind-in-psychotherapy/
‘The Unconscious’ by R.L.Richmond: http://
www.guidetopsychology.com/ucs.htm

Recommended Literature:

‘The Neuropsychology of the Unconscious: Integrating

Brain and Mind in Psychotherapy’ (2015) by Efrat Ginot

‘Psychodynamic Therapy: A Guide to Evidence-Based

Practice’ (2013) by Richard F.Summers & Jacques P.Barber

‘The Unconscious: Penguin Modern Classics’ (2005) by

Sigmund Freud

Copyright © Elmira Strange