The Endowment for the Advancement of Psychotherapy is dedicated to supporting and expanding education, professional training, and research in dynamic psychotherapy. We endeavor to educate the public about the power of this kind of treatment, where the doctor-patient relationship is central to the work of dealing with developmental problems, life conflicts and vulnerabilities, and the impact of biologically driven mental illness, for as long as required.

Similar to the classic “patient on the couch” psychoanalysis, psychodynamics is based on the premise that mental well-being is influenced by unconscious conflicts, significant childhood experiences and painful feelings that are hidden behind a variety of defense mechanisms, which affect the individual’s development and ability to adapt to new situations and relationships. However, in dynamic therapy, therapists and patients work in partnership face-to-face — exploring together the broad spectrum of the patient’s life; not just his or her innermost thoughts and dreams.

Psychodynamic therapy not only may improve mental well-being, but also physical health. Several studies of patients with terminal breast cancer and other cancers have shown that people who participate in support groups live longer and maintain higher emotional well-being. Other research indicates that, when emotional health improves, patients have fewer visits to medical doctors’ offices. This is significant since some studies estimate that the majority of all visits to medical treatment providers may be stress-related.