The Key Aims in Therapy

Key Aims in Therapy

This is a list of 12 aims or goals of therapy, specifically relational psychotherapy or relational psychodynamic therapy.  These twelve principles are derived from Roy Barsness’ Core Competencies of Relational Psychoanalysis (2018).  

1.  Increased capacity to feel the full range of human emotion, and hold multiple affective states

2. Increased access to multiple aspects of the Self, without shame

3. Increased ability to comfort and self-sooth

4. Increased ability to accept responsibility

5. The ability to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty

6. Ability to be more truthful with one’s self

7. The ability to think more creatively about one’s past, rather than recreate and repeat it

8. Relief from internal constraints or beliefs that have become problematic

9. A more imaginative and creative mind

10. Increased capacity to love and to work, self-efficacy

11. The ability to engage in more meaningful and restorative relationships 

12. Hope