DYNAMIC EXPERIENTIAL THERAPY

Dr. ALtschule and Dr. Gelles created Dynamic Experiential Therapy as a therapy, which utilizes the experiential context for intesive integrationist psychotherapy that incorporates neurology, cognition, behaviorism, and humanism on the foundation of a psychoanalytic/psychodynamic model. Altschule and Gelles utilize a contemporary psychoanalytic framework that conceptualizes a neurologically based unconcious that is the storehouse of thoughts, behaviors, emotions, attachments, self-other representations, etc. that are the basis of an individual's present day functioning. These thoughts, behaviors, emotions, etc. form maps and schema for how an individual experiences themself and the world. The goal of DET is then to help a resident understand the patterns they are endlessly repeating. Experiential therapy is the ideal context for this treatment, because it facilitates both the relaxing of internal defenses and the expression of these patterns and internal maps. Experiential therapy also undermines the tension of the therapeutic focus and allows for what Peter Fonagy calls, "Epistemic Trust," or "trust in the authenticity and personal relevance of interpersonally transmitted knowledge." Once an individual understands how they experience the world and the patterns they are repeating, they have strengthened their capacity for self-refelctive functioning or mentalization. And they are able to identify these patterns as they emerge in the future and

endlessly is the The teachable moment capitalizes on the present and provides meaningful context to introduce or expand on focus areas that are less accessible in traditional psychotherapy. Topics being discussed are at the forefront of one's mind and thus contain added relevancy. Addressing these issues in the moment, versus after the fact, maximizes the potential for growth. Additionally, the present provides opportunities for more greater authentic communication in which defenses are not as rigid. Finally, we believe that the present provides greater opportunities for what Peter Fonagy calls, "Epistemic Trust," or "trust in the authenticity and personal relevance of interpersonally transmitted knowledge."