How is Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) a Psychodynamic Therapy?

In my prior article,  How is Contemporary Psychodynamic Therapy Different From Traditional Psychoanalysis?, I discussed the difference between contemporary (modern) psychodynamic therapy and traditional (Freudian) psychoanalysis.

AEDP as a Psychodynamic Therapy

In the current article, I'm discussing how Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a type of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

What is AEDP?

AEDP was developed by clinician and researcher, Dr. Diana Fosha.

See my two prior articles:

What is AEDP and How Does It Heal Trauma

How Does AEDP Heal?

How is AEDP a Psychodynamic Therapy?

AEDP is a psychodynamic therapy because it stems from psychodynamic principles.

The psychodynamic roots of AEDP include concepts such as:

• The Past Influences the Present: AEDP recognizes that the past influences the present. This is a fundamental concept in all forms of psychodynamic therapy (see my article: Why is Past Unresolved Trauma Affecting You Now?).

AEDP as a Psychodynamic Therapy

• Exploration of Defenses: AEDP delves into how we use defense mechanisms (ways to avoid emotional and psychological pain) which were developed as a strategy to cope with overwhelming pain. This is a core concept of psychodynamic therapy.

• Relational Focus: AEDP emphasizes the relationship between the client and the therapist as crucial to the client's healing. This is an essential part of psychodynamic psychotherapy.

How is AEDP Different From Psychodynamic Therapy?

• Experiential and Focused on Emotion: Instead of only analyzing the past, AEDP focuses on the here-and-now to fully focus on emotions as they arise in the therapy using these moments as a catalyst for change (see my article: Riding the Waves of Transformation).

AEDP as a Psychodynamic Therapy

• Accelerated Healing: The "Accelerated" part of AEDP refers to harnessing the client's powerful emotional experiences, including emotions like joy and grief, to facilitate accelerated healing (as compared to most psychodynamic therapies) rather than a slow exploration of the client's dynamics (see my article: How Does AEDP Work?).

• The Client's Innate Resilience: AEDP assumes that people are hardwired for resilience. AEDP focuses on and amplifies what is already working for the client. This helps to build the client's existing strengths which promotes the client's flourishing. This is a significant difference from many forms of psychodynamic therapy which focus on the pathology (pathology in this context refers to mental and behavioral patterns that are dysfunctional).

Conclusion

AEDP uses psychodynamic principles, but it deepens and tends to speed up the process by getting clients to feel and transform emotions experientially within a secure, attachment-based therapeutic relationship. This helps clients to unlock their innate capacity for healing (see my article: Why is Experiential Therapy More Effective Than Traditional Therapy to Resolve Trauma).

Get Help in AEDP Therapy

If you have been struggling on your own to cope with unresolved trauma, you could benefit from working with an AEDP therapist.

To find an AEDP therapist near you, you can search on the AEDP directory.

Rather than struggling on your own, seek help from a licensed mental health professional who is trained in AEDP.

About Me

I am a licensed New York psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR, AEDP, EFT (for couples), Parts Work (IFS and Ego States), Somatic Experiencing and Certified Sex Therapist.

As a trauma therapist with more than 25 years of experience, I have helped many individual adults and couples to heal from trauma (see my article: How Trauma Therapy Can Help You Overcome Unresolved Trauma).

To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.

To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.