Problem-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Problem-Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy outlines a targeted psychodynamic approach that emphasizes identifying and tracking a clear set of problems—symptoms, behaviors, personality patterns, and relationship issues—from the first sessions.

Busch presents techniques to build concise psychodynamic formulations tying current difficulties to developmental history, trauma, and self-other representations, then uses those formulations to select focused interventions.

The method integrates psychodynamic concepts with behavioral change strategies, relationship work, and symptom tracking to produce timely clinical gains while remaining open to emergent themes.

It offers clinicians practical skills for balancing exploration with problem-solving, teaching mentalization, and helping patients practice new interpersonal behaviors within therapy.

The approach is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, aiming to foster insight alongside measurable change.