Books by Jon Frederickson
One of the main objectives of psychotherapy is to address emotion dysregulation that causes patho... more One of the main objectives of psychotherapy is to address emotion dysregulation that causes pathological symptoms and distress in patients. Following psychodynamic theory, we propose that in humans, the combination of emotions plus conditioned anxiety due to traumatic attachment can lead to dysregulated affects. Likewise, defenses can generate and maintain dysregulated affects (altogether Dysregulated Affective States, DAS). We propose the Experiential-Dynamic Emotion Regulation methodology, a framework to understand emotion dysregulation by integrating scientific evidence coming from the fields of affective neuroscience and Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy aimed at resolving DAS. This method and the techniques proposed can be integrated within other approaches. Similarities and differences with the Cognitive model of emotion regulation and cognitivebehavioral approaches are discussed within the paper.
Emotions are the gift nature gave us to help us connect with others. Emotions do not come from
ou... more Emotions are the gift nature gave us to help us connect with others. Emotions do not come from
out of nowhere. Rather, they are constantly generated, usually by stimuli in our interpersonal
world. They bond us to others, guide us in navigating our social interactions, and help us care
for each other. Paraphrasing Shakespeare, “Our relationships are such stuff as emotions are
made of”. Emotions express our needs and desires. When problems happen in our relationships,
emotions arise to help us fixing those problems. However, when emotions can become dysregulated,
pathology begins. Almost all forms of psychopathology are associated with dysregulated
emotions or dysregulatory mechanisms. These dysregulated emotions can become regulated
when the therapist helps clients express, face and regulate their emotions, and channel them
into healthy actions. This research topic gathers contributions from affective neuroscientists and
psychotherapists to illustrate how our emotions become dysregulated in life and can become
regulated through psychotherapy.
Papers by Jon Frederickson
Routledge eBooks, Oct 28, 2013
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, 2013
Psychology, The Lies We Tell Ourselves, 2017
Brain Sciences, 2020
According to psychoanalysis, anxiety signals a threat whenever a forbidden feeling emerges. Anxie... more According to psychoanalysis, anxiety signals a threat whenever a forbidden feeling emerges. Anxiety triggers defenses and maladaptive behaviors, thus leading to clinical problems. For these reasons, anxiety regulation is a core aspect of psychodynamic-oriented treatments to help clients. In the present theoretical paper, we review and discuss anxiety generation and dysregulation, first from a neural point of view, presenting findings from neuroimaging and psychophysiological studies. The aim is to trace parallels with psychodynamic theories of anxiety. Then, we discuss the psychological mechanisms and neural bases of emotion regulation in the laboratory, and possible neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety regulation in psychotherapy. We describe two different approaches to emotion/anxiety regulation, one based on the standard cognitive model of emotion regulation, the other based on psychodynamic principles and affective neuroscience. We then illustrate in detail a dynamic experienti...
Frontiers Research Topics, 2017
All content included on this site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, video/aud... more All content included on this site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, video/audio clips, downloads, data compilations and software, is the property of or is licensed to Frontiers Media SA ("Frontiers") or its licensees and/or subcontractors. The copyright in the text of individual articles is the property of their respective authors, subject to a license granted to Frontiers. The compilation of articles constituting this e-book, wherever published, as well as the compilation of all other content on this site, is the exclusive property of Frontiers. For the conditions for downloading and copying of e-books from Frontiers' website, please see the Terms for Website Use. If purchasing Frontiers e-books from other websites or sources, the conditions of the website concerned apply. Images and graphics not forming part of user-contributed materials may not be downloaded or copied without permission. Individual articles may be downloaded and reproduced in accordance with the principles of the CC-BY licence subject to any copyright or other notices. They may not be re-sold as an e-book. As author or other contributor you grant a CC-BY licence to others to reproduce your articles, including any graphics and third-party materials supplied by you, in accordance with the Conditions for Website Use and subject to any copyright notices which you include in connection with your articles and materials.
New Developments in Anxiety Disorders, 2016
Although anxiety is not necessarily a pathological phenomenon, it can become dysregulated, causin... more Although anxiety is not necessarily a pathological phenomenon, it can become dysregulated, causing suffering. Indeed, emotion dysregulation lies at the core of many psychopathologies. Thus, anxiety regulation is central to all effective psychological treatment. The predominant perspective on emotion regulation and dysregulation is appraisal theory, which proposes that the cognitive appraisal of an event generates an emotional response. According to Gross's process model, any emotion can become dysregulated when the patient lacks or fails to use an appropriate regulatory strategy. Therefore, the clinician must teach the patient better regulatory strategies. The perspective we put forward departs from Gross's model based on appraisal theory. The experiential-dynamic emotion-regulation model, EDER, grounded in affective neuroscience and modern psychodynamic psychotherapy proposes that (1) emotions precede cognition (temporal and neuroanatomical primacy), (2) emotions are not inherently dysregulated (they have specific properties of time and strength proportional to the quality of the stimulus), and (3) dysregulation derives from the combination of emotions plus conditioned anxiety, or from secondary-defensive affects, both leading to dysregulated-affective states (DASs). To regulate DAS, the clinician must regulate the dysregulating anxiety or restructure the defenses, which create defensive affects, and then help the client to fully express the underlying emotions that elicit anxiety and defenses. In this chapter, we specifically focus on dysregulated anxiety, its neural bases, and how to regulate it according to the EDER model. First, we present hypotheses and data to show the neural bases of anxiety. Then, specific strategies and techniques to regulate anxiety are explained and clinical excerpts illustrate their application.
European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, 2014
Frontiers in Psychology, 2018
Frontiers in Psychology, Jun 21, 2017
Introduction: What Do We Do When We Listen? Theory or Reflection. Reflection Studies. Theory of t... more Introduction: What Do We Do When We Listen? Theory or Reflection. Reflection Studies. Theory of the Analysis of Conflict. Conflict Studies. Theory of the Analysis of Transference. Transference Studies. Theory of Defense Analysis. Defense Analysis Studies. Studies in Flexibility of Listening. Harnessing Thinking and Intuition.
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Books by Jon Frederickson
out of nowhere. Rather, they are constantly generated, usually by stimuli in our interpersonal
world. They bond us to others, guide us in navigating our social interactions, and help us care
for each other. Paraphrasing Shakespeare, “Our relationships are such stuff as emotions are
made of”. Emotions express our needs and desires. When problems happen in our relationships,
emotions arise to help us fixing those problems. However, when emotions can become dysregulated,
pathology begins. Almost all forms of psychopathology are associated with dysregulated
emotions or dysregulatory mechanisms. These dysregulated emotions can become regulated
when the therapist helps clients express, face and regulate their emotions, and channel them
into healthy actions. This research topic gathers contributions from affective neuroscientists and
psychotherapists to illustrate how our emotions become dysregulated in life and can become
regulated through psychotherapy.
Papers by Jon Frederickson
out of nowhere. Rather, they are constantly generated, usually by stimuli in our interpersonal
world. They bond us to others, guide us in navigating our social interactions, and help us care
for each other. Paraphrasing Shakespeare, “Our relationships are such stuff as emotions are
made of”. Emotions express our needs and desires. When problems happen in our relationships,
emotions arise to help us fixing those problems. However, when emotions can become dysregulated,
pathology begins. Almost all forms of psychopathology are associated with dysregulated
emotions or dysregulatory mechanisms. These dysregulated emotions can become regulated
when the therapist helps clients express, face and regulate their emotions, and channel them
into healthy actions. This research topic gathers contributions from affective neuroscientists and
psychotherapists to illustrate how our emotions become dysregulated in life and can become
regulated through psychotherapy.