ABSTRACT
Psychodynamic approaches to helping individuals with psychosis focus on unconscious feelings and defences that may contribute to difficult, unwanted experiences. This chapter provides an introduction to psychodynamic approaches to psychosis. In the first part of the chapter, Paul-Newell describes his personal experience of psychodynamic therapy for psychosis. He outlines the process and his experience of this therapy, within which his relationship with his therapist is a key factor. Paul-Newell also describes how psychodynamic ideas were combined with other interventions as part of the therapy. In the second part of this chapter, Alison, a psychodynamic therapist, then provides an overview of the theory and practice of psychodynamic therapy for psychosis. Here, the way psychodynamic approaches understand the human mind and psychosis is discussed, followed by an outline of what the therapy can potentially involve. The chapter ends with a consideration of the research evidence for psychodynamic approaches, whether these approaches should be offered to people with psychosis, and who may benefit from them.
