There were 5 books that had the biggest impact on my growth as a clinician in 2025. Some helped me improve my psychodynamic thinking. Others helped me gain an even deeper appreciation of the field (not that I needed that but a little extra never hurts). All of them made me excited about what there still is to learn.

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📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate links)

Book #1 → https://amzn.to/4hYD00h

Book #2 → https://amzn.to/43m3bIH

Book #3 → https://amzn.to/3QmtYxD

Book #4 → https://amzn.to/45WFYNL

Book #5 → https://amzn.to/3A79i84

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If you want to get a solid foundation in psychodynamic psychology, here are three books I'd put together into apersonal curriculum.

📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate links)

Book #1 → https://amzn.to/3WGLYWU

Book #2 → https://amzn.to/47tCx3n

Book #3 → https://amzn.to/4ouySZ9

💌 Psychodynamic Newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com

TIMESTAMPS

01:05 Book #1

04:59 Book #2

08:48 Book #3

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Anna Freud explores how altruism can be used to fend off anxiety (and fulfil "forbidden" wishes), with her interesting exploration of Altruism as a Defense.

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📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate link)

The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense: https://amzn.to/467LwH9

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

01:16 Anna Freud

02:27 Defense Mechanisms

03:30 Altruism (as a Defense)

05:02 Why People Use Altruism as a Defense

06:45 How Altruism as a Defense Works

08:45 Consequences

10:15 (Superficial) Examples + Variations

14:33 My Takeaway

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This is an introduction to Anna Freud's concept of the Identification with the Aggressor (from her book The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defence).

For more book recommendations and deep-dives into psychodynamic theory join my newsletter 💌 → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletterCORRECTION at 08:25: the term Anna Freud uses is not "acting out (=Ausagieren) aggression" but "abreaction (=Abreagieren) in the transference" in psychotherapy! I made a mistake.📖 Resources mentioned (Amazon affiliate link)Link to study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255419693_Does_Venting_Anger_Feed_or_Extinguish_the_Flame_Catharsis_Rumination_Distraction_Anger_and_Aggressive_RespondingThe Ego and Mechanisms of Defense: https://amzn.to/4lhgctETIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction03:06 What is Identification with the Aggressor?05:41 "Prophylactic" Aggression06:55 Helpful vs. Unhelpful08:57 Back to the Study...I'm Alina, a German psychoanalyst in training. I share what I read and learn online to make psychodynamic theory more accessible.DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.

👀 Curious about Karen Horney? My workshop is your shortcut to understand her core ideas (distilled from 2,000+ pages of her writing) including basic anxiety, neurotic trends, idealized self, tyranny of the shoulds, and more… in 150 minutes: https://karen-horney.teachery.co/checkout

📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate links)

Book #1: https://amzn.to/3XOMuSO

Book #2: https://amzn.to/470yo55

Book #3: https://amzn.to/4cne9Qc

I'm Alina, a German psychoanalyst in training. On this channel, I introduce you to psychodynamic theory and help you find your next favourite book ;)

💌 Psychodynamic Library + Newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter🤳

Instagram: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:39 My Karen Horney Workshop

01:14 Book #1

04:36 Book #2

06:42 Book #3

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Psychoanalysis is full of weird ideas, some are weird in a good way and some... well... see for yourself. In this video I take you along as I browse through Salman Akhtar's masterpiece the "Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychoanalysis" and *ramble* through how I discover and study three random new concepts as a psychoanalyst in training.

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📖 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate link)

Salman Akhtar: Comprehensive Dictionary of Psychoanalysis → https://amzn.to/3FshnH3

Otto Fenichel: The Economic Function of Screen Memories (1927)

Kata Levy: The Eternal Dilettante (1948)

Sigmund Freud: The Taboo of Virginity (1918)

🤳 Instagram: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:41 Screen Hunger - Otto Fenichel

09:11 Eternal Dilettante - Kata Levy

14:43 Narcissism of Minor Differences - Sigmund Freud

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If I could only recommend one book to every psychodynamic psychotherapist (in training), this would be it: Psychoanalytic Diagnosis - Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process by Nancy McWilliams. It’s a masterpiece that you shouldn’t miss in your own library to improve your clinical knowledge and practice.

📖 Get the book (Amazon affiliate link) → https://amzn.to/4hkDwF3

🎥 Videos mentioned Defense Mechanisms: https://youtu.be/tiQRJh0HL4E Dwight Schrute: https://youtu.be/Xjbzbe0ubqU

💌 Psychodynamic Library + Newsletter → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter

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TIMESTAMPS 00:00 My favourite psychodynamic book 00:51 Why (psychoanalytic) diagnosis matters 04:22 Content of the book 09:19 Personality types aka my favourite part 11:40 Limits

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In this ongoing series of “What I Read” I hope to help you find interesting new books to discover (and at least sometimes understand) the great minds and ideas of psychoanalysis. Here is what I read in December 2024 as a psychoanalyst in training. 💌 NEWSLETTER: Get my Psychodynamic Library → https://psychodynamicpsychology.com/newsletter 🤳 INSTAGRAM: Casual updates → https://instagram.com/psychodynamicpsychology 📚 Books mentioned (Amazon affiliate links): Karen Horney, New Ways in Psychoanalysis: https://amzn.to/470yo55 Karen Horney, Final Lectures: https://amzn.to/49rektU Andrew Morrison, Essential Papers on Narcissism: https://amzn.to/4fz2Upk Heinz Kohut, The Restoration of the Self: https://amzn.to/3WRbKsc TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Overview 01:28 Karen Horney, New Ways in Psychoanalysis 05:01 Thomas Ogden, Reading Loewald: Oedipus Reconceived 06:07 Karen Horney, Final Lectures 08:23 What’s next DISCLAIMER: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. This description contains affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission at absolutely no extra cost for you if you decide to purchase an item or sign up for a free trial.