Practical Psychodynamic Formulation

Abstract

We outline a practical approach to psychodynamic formulation to show how useful it can be within the demands of ordinary clinical practice. To do so, we break down the components of a dynamic formulation using a variety of examples. We draw on the Triangle of Insight (Jacobs, 2006) and the Triangle of Persons (Malan, 1979) as our main model of formulation and compare it to other approaches. By doing so, we aim to illustrate how formulation is a flexible, effective tool for therapeutic assessment. The article also outlines a way of thinking through written case formulation, discussed primarily through an extended case example. Waitara Ka huaina e māua he tirohanga aropā ki te tauirahanga hinengaro kia mōhiotia ai tōna painga i roto i ngā nonoi o te mahi haumanu. Kia taea ai ka whāia ētahi tauira hei arohaenga i ngā waehanga tātainga hikareia. Ka huri ki te Mātauranga ā-Tapatoru (Jacobs, 2006) me te Tapatorunga ā-Tangata (Malan, 1979) hei whainga tauira matua tātai ka whakataurite ki ētahi atu tirohanga. Mā tēnei, e whai ana māua kia tauirahia te ngāwari, te whai hua o tēnei hāpai hei arohaenga haumanu. E huaina anō hoki he momo whakaarohanga mai i te tauira tuhinga whakaarahanga matua i tētahi whakaroanga tauira tuhinga.