ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, I provided a selected review on the research evidence that supported the effi cacy of psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy. I noted that there are two questions of interest for psychotherapy patients, clinicians, and researchers: (1) Does psychotherapy work? And if so, (2) how does it work? Th e focus of this chapter is on the latter question of how psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy works. Th e theoretical literature has much to say about this, and increasing research on the psychotherapy process is fi nding that, across theoretical orientations, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic ideas and interventions are quite helpful.
