We were trained in psychodynamics—then quietly drifted away.

Most of us got at least some exposure to psychodynamic theory during training.

Transference, resistance, the unconscious—we learned the language.

But when we hit the clinic, the pull of symptom-focused care took over.

CBT. Meds. Screening tools. Protocols.

Efficient and evidence-based, usually effective.

But something essential gets lost.

Dr. Steven Reidbord’s recent webinar felt like a reintroduction to a part of myself I hadn’t spoken to in a while. He doesn’t dismiss medications or CBT—he uses both.

But he reminds us that the work goes deeper.

Psychodynamic therapy doesn't just treat symptoms.

It explores why those symptoms exist in the first place.

And that difference—between relief and understanding—isn’t just theoretical.

It changes how we show up in the room.

Here’s what stuck with me: 

▸ Symptoms are not isolated—they emerge from personality 

▸ Empathy is more than support—it’s about recognizing internal conflict 

▸ Resistance is not a barrier—it’s a clue 

▸ Listening itself is therapeutic—not just what we say, but how we listen

And maybe most striking:

Insight is healing—but so is the relationship.

Psychodynamic therapy isn’t outdated.

It’s evolving. Grounded in evidence.

And still one of the few approaches that takes the whole person seriously.

You can link to Dr. Reidbord's 30 minute webinar here: https://www.thecarlatreport.com/blogs/3-carlat-psychiatry-webinars/post/5632-introduction-to-psychodynamic-psychotherapy-with-steven-reidbord-md

It's part of our webinar subscription series that offers CME credit. How have you integrated psychodynamic thinking into your current practice? 

→ Share this if you’ve ever felt caught between depth and efficiency. 

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