In today’s fast-paced world, many people seeking mental health treatment often prioritize quick solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one such popular treatment, largely because of its short-term focus. It’s structured, solution-driven, and tends to require fewer sessions. For disorders such as anxiety and depression, many CBT programs offer anywhere from 6 to 20 sessions, promising noticeable improvement.
However, there's a growing recognition that while CBT can provide immediate relief, it does not always lead to lasting change. Enter dynamic psychotherapy—a therapeutic approach that may require more time and commitment but can lead to deeper, more enduring improvements in mental health. In fact, research has shown that dynamic psychotherapy is superior to CBT post-treatment and at three years follow up (Huber et al, 2012). This study looked at symptoms of depression, social-interpersonal difficulties, and personality structure and concluded that the higher treatment dose and the more extended time frame of dynamic psychotherapy provides more long-term and stable benefits. In fact, with dynamic treatment, symptoms continue to lessen over time! In comparison, after CBT treatment, symptoms start to re-emerge.

What is Dynamic Psychotherapy?
Dynamic psychotherapy, often referred to as psychodynamic therapy, focuses on uncovering the underlying emotional and psychological issues that contribute to a person’s mental health challenges. Instead of just addressing the symptoms, dynamic psychotherapy digs deeper into the root causes—often unconscious conflicts, unresolved trauma, and maladaptive patterns learned in childhood.
While CBT tends to emphasize modifying current thoughts and behaviors, dynamic therapy seeks to create long-term changes by helping individuals understand why they feel and behave the way they do.
The Session Differences: Dynamic Therapy vs. CBT
The number of psychotherapy sessions required to resolve disorders like anxiety and depression can vary significantly between these two therapeutic models.
CBT: Typically, patients attend 6 to 20 sessions. CBT’s structured nature allows for relatively short interventions, where therapists and patients focus on identifying specific problems and finding practical solutions.
Dynamic Psychotherapy: On the other hand, dynamic psychotherapy often involves more sessions, with therapy lasting 6 months to a year or more, depending on the severity of the disorder and the individual’s progress. This is not because it is inefficient, but because it aims to treat the deeper, more ingrained aspects of a person’s psyche.
The question then arises—if CBT is shorter, why would someone opt for dynamic psychotherapy, which can take more time?
The Long-Term Benefits of Dynamic Psychotherapy
While CBT can help manage symptoms effectively in the short term, it may not always address the core issues that cause disorders like anxiety and depression. This is where dynamic psychotherapy shines.
Deeper Understanding Leads to Sustainable Change
Dynamic psychotherapy focuses on helping individuals understand their emotional patterns and internal conflicts. This deeper level of understanding can prevent future episodes of mental health struggles by addressing the root cause.
Continuous Improvement
Research shows that the benefits of dynamic therapy often continue after treatment ends. Patients frequently report that, even after completing their sessions, they keep experiencing mental and emotional growth over time. In contrast, individuals treated with CBT can experience a return of symptoms after the therapy ends.
Fostering Emotional Resilience
Dynamic therapy helps build emotional resilience by helping patients develop better emotional insights. This can create a buffer against future stress and mental health challenges, fostering long-term well-being.
Improving Relationships
Since dynamic therapy works on understanding how past experiences shape present relationships and emotions, patients often find that it improves their ability to connect with others. Better interpersonal relationships often contribute to sustained mental health improvement.
The Commitment of Dynamic Psychotherapy: Is It Worth It?
One of the main reasons people hesitate to choose dynamic psychotherapy is the commitment it requires. Weekly sessions for months can seem daunting, especially when compared to CBT’s more limited timeline.
However, if you consider mental health as an investment in your long-term well-being, dynamic psychotherapy may be worth the extra time and effort. Just as some medical conditions require longer, more intensive treatments for full recovery, mental health issues often need deeper exploration and healing to ensure lasting results.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Therapy for You
Both CBT and dynamic psychotherapy have their strengths, and the right choice depends on your specific needs and goals. If you’re looking for a quick fix to manage immediate symptoms, CBT might be a suitable option. But if you’re seeking lasting change and the opportunity to address the deeper roots of your mental health challenges, dynamic psychotherapy’s longer treatment process may be a more appropriate—and ultimately rewarding—investment.
For many, the additional sessions of dynamic therapy are not just about solving today’s issues; they’re about laying the groundwork for ongoing growth, better relationships, and long-term emotional health. In this sense, dynamic therapy can be a path toward a fuller, richer life—beyond the immediate relief that shorter-term treatments might offer. By committing to understanding your deeper self and taking the time to work through those underlying issues, dynamic psychotherapy might just offer the sustained change that so many people are searching for in their mental health journey.
If you are interested in learning more about dynamic psychotherapy, contact me for a free consultation.
Reference: Huber, D., Zimmermann, J., Henrich, G., & Klug, G.D. (2012). Comparison of cognitive-behaviour therapy with psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy for depressed patients - a three-year follow-up study. Zeitschrift fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, 58 3, 299-316 .