Jack’s Formulation

Psychodynamic approach for Jack

A Psychodynamic approach focuses on psychological and emotional pain and is about getting in touch with ones thoughts and feelings by looking at their root issues. The therapist would aim to help the client reformulate what they are experiencing by looking at their past experiences which may be currently being avoided as they have been pushed to the unconscious mind. A ‘triangle of conflict’, also known as the process of defence, is where the therapist attempts to discover meaning in confusing and unclear areas of experience, by identifying the underlying conflicts, rather than using defence strategies to avoid them.

Jack started life off with what was described as a stable upbringing for 10 years, until it collapsed around him and his comfortable life quickly became a very difficult upbringing. He experienced a lot of traumatic events in his adolescent stage of life, from witnessing abuse and reliance on alcohol from his father, being sexually abused by his male boss at the age of 14 and living in a ‘rougher area’ where there was a tendency of being burgled or harassed. Jack has been unable to get closure for these events. He started relying on drinking at age 15, as a coping mechanism, causing him to leave his jobs, and began to have violent arguments at home, no doubt following the behaviour he would have observed his father doing, he was consequently kicked out.

Jack has been diagnosed with depression and was also showing symptoms of ‘paranoia’ and ‘persistent delusional disorder’.  PTSD also seems to be apparent in Jack, hence the choice of the Psychodynamic approach, by identifying the underlying conflicts and where the core issues started. The focus on Jack’s therapy should be around creating a sense of Self. An essential period for the growth of the Self is in your teenage years, where you begin to own your own identity, gender and sexuality. During his adolescent development, Jack experienced a lot of trauma, mainly circling around the male figure. This may constitute to not really knowing who he is, especially as a male himself and growing up without any positive male figures.  As Jack is seeing his dad in the mirror looking back at him which filled him with ‘fear’ and ‘self-loathing’ is a reflection of the fear of who he is or may become.  Jack needs to create a separation between him and his father in order to move forward and think positively about himself and further his passion for music.