The art of psychotherapy: selecting patients for psychodynamic psychotherapy

Abstract

A preliminary challenge in learning the art of psychotherapy is mastering how to choose appropriate patients. This skill goes far beyond performing a symptom inventory and matching up those results to a diagnosis. A psychodynamic evaluation explores various innate characteristics that predict a patient's ability to participate fully in and benefit greatly from this mode of therapy. Ignoring this critical first step in the process may create unnecessary stumbling blocks in the road of treatment. In this article, we will use a case example to illustrate some of the consequences a poor fit bears for both the patient and the therapist; in addition, we will review the desired traits that support a patient's suitability for psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Keywords: Patient selection; patient suitability; psychiatric residency training; psychodynamic psychotherapy; psychotherapy supervision.