Object Relations Therapy: What Is It?

Object relations therapy is a form of psychodynamic therapy focusing on root causes leading to psychological concerns, instead of solely focusing on symptoms. In this approach, one's past is considered a significant factor in understanding one's present. This method emphasizes the impact of a person's early life experiences, internal processes, including unconscious thoughts and emotions, and interpersonal dynamics.

A key element of object relations therapy is a focus on developmental stages, which are early periods of life, in which important skills are learned and basic needs must be met for healthy development. During these early years, individuals learn about safety, power and control, and how to navigate relationships. Having a lack of support or an experience of abuse during this timeframe can deeply impact the way a person learns to navigate the world. However, even when those developmental stages are navigated in a healthy way, individuals can still experience challenges surrounding themes of safety, power and control, and relationships later in life. That being said, individuals with supportive early experiences will have greater skills to address these challenges. One primary goal of therapy is for the therapist to provide relational experiences that can be helpful and corrective, so previous unmet needs and wounds of the client can be healed.

A second element of this approach is a focus on one’s internal experience, particularly in the context of relationship. Often individuals experience internal conflict, such as opposing thoughts and feelings. According to this form of therapy, some emotions and thoughts can remain outside of one’s awareness, or be unconscious, which can negatively impact the person’s ability to navigate the world in a healthy way. Too much internal conflict can result in anxiety, distress, and unhealthy behaviors. A goal of therapy is to help resolve internal conflict and promote balance in a way that is in sync with one’s external circumstances or reality.

Third, with this form of therapy, it is understood that individuals internalize messages and beliefs through experiences and relationships, particularly those from early development. These internalized messages or ways of being are referred to as “introjects.” In a sense, aspects of other people are held inside the person’s sense of self and awareness of the world. A goal of therapy is that individuals develop greater awareness of what they have internalized. Negative messages and beliefs that have been internalized that are harmful can be externalized or no longer held onto as part of the self. Through therapeutic relationship, new, corrective messages can be experienced and internalized. Additional therapeutic aims include an increased experience of autonomy and a more cohesive sense of self.

Object relations therapy is helpful for those who want to have a greater understanding about who they are and how their past has impacted their present. Psychodynamic therapy has a long history of being well used for a wide scope of psychiatric concerns. In addition, while psychodynamic therapy is considered a long-term approach, research consistently indicates its efficacy in providing long-lasting healing, as opposed to some therapies that are solution focused and can provide less enduring positive results.

If you have questions about this form of therapy and wonder if it could be a good fit for you, I would love to answer any questions you might have.

Resources regarding efficacy of psychodynamic therapy:

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2010/01/psychodynamic-therapy

de Maat, S, de Jonghe, F, Schoevers, R, & Dekker, J. (2009). The effectiveness of long-term psychoanalytic therapy: a systematic review of empirical studies. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 17(1): 1-23.

Leichsenring, F., & Rabung, S. (2008). Effectiveness of long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 300, 1551–1565.

Shedler, J. (2010) The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, American Psychologist, Vol. 65, No. 2, 98–109.

Material on this page is not a provision of therapy and is for informational purposes only. Please meet with a licensed therapist or medical doctor regarding personal health. Regarding my practice, I am only allowed to meet with clients in the states of Ohio and Florida, where I am licensed. If you would like to schedule an appointment with me, I can be reached at #513-848-7268 and catharina@oakscounseling.hush.com.