First, the author recommends that the psychotherapist who treats cancer patients be familiar with the following: 1) the natural course and treatment of the illness, 2) a flexible approach in accord with the medical status of the patient, 3) a common sense approach to defenses, 4) a concern with quality-of-life issues, and 5) counter- transference issues as they relate to the treatment of very sick patients (Pospone, 1998). The model of psychodynamic psychotherapy is mainly useful for understanding the emotional responses of patients with cancer.
It provides a point of view for clarifying the onset of psychiatric symptoms in response to the stresses of having a cancer diagnosis. Recently psychoanalytic theoretical models enlarge to an understanding of the expressive symptomatology of the cancer patient as well as provide a point of view for intervention. The ego psychological model offers a look at defenses and coping mechanisms (Pospone, 1998). *Approaches Psychoanalysis and/or insight-oriented psychotherapy may have to give way to crisis intervention and supportive therapy (temporarily or permanently, depending on the medical condition of the patient) (Pospone, 1998).
Psychotherapists also need to keep quality-of-life issues in focus. The predictable life span, the patient’s relationship to the oncologist, and issues related to the patient’s symptoms should never be far from the psychotherapist’s attention. Supervision and support groups with case consultations are very helpful in preventing these reactions and forestalling burnout. *Patients First Cancer Stage Every cancer- stage have different client with different conditions. For example: Stage one-middle-aged woman with breast cancer and knowledge of the effects of stress on the immune system was referred for brief psychotherapy (Pospone, 1998).
She was depressed, pessimistic about her prognosis, and filled with guilt, feeling that she had caused her disease. She was sure her marital infidelities were responsible for causing her cancer—a fitting punishment, she thought. The early phase of psychotherapy allowed her to deal with the fact of being a cancer patient. Method used in this particular scenario: The psychotherapy evolved into several phases. A positive transference was encouraged while the patient was helped to mourn the loss of her good health.
She was also encouraged to take control of understanding her disease and the reasons for her marital infidelities. She was discharged from psychotherapy after a year and a half of twice-a-week psychotherapy feeling more in control and optimistic (Pospone, 1998). *Conclusion I must mention that the support during a hard condition as cancer is fundamental to any patient. The cases reported in this article demonstrate several of the important principles that are unique to the psychotherapeutic work with cancer patients (Pospone, 1998).
Dynamic psychotherapy with cancer patients is emotionally challenging, intellectually stimulating, and highly rewarding. Time pressures will often enhance the motivation for psychological change and allow the patient and therapist to work productively and rapidly toward resolving long-standing conflict. I must say that they used Adler psychoanalysis “social” Alder developed a different view and believe that human nature was driven usually by social aspects rather than sexual urges and that all action where goal oriented in order to improve oneself (Corsini & Wedding, 2011).
I observed that in this special case of cancer and the use of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy they used group’s consultations and each patient talk about their own experiences during the cancer process. I think that this approach that they incorporated as therapy is beneficial, because they can see/feel supported for many people. Also, “Adlerian Analysis” considered a psychodynamic theory because it focuses on understanding the individual psyche. (Corsini & Wedding, 2011).
Which in this case individual psyche play a big role, because “you” wants to get better you will get better because that what you want for you as an individual.
Reference: Corsini, R. J. Wedding, D. , (2011) Current Psychotherapies, 9th ed. ISBN-13: 978-0-495-90336-9. ISBN-10: 978-0-90336-1. Centage Learning. Brooks/Cole, Belmont, CA Pospone, N. (1998). Psychotherapy with cancer patients. 52(4):412-24. , Retrieved from http://wv9lq5ld3p. search. serialssolutions. com. library. capella. edu.