This course introduces the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Process based on the clinical framework developed by Nancy McWilliams, one of the most influential theorists in modern psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychology. It focuses on understanding personality structure, emotional functioning, and unconscious processes in clinical assessment.

The course explains how psychodynamic diagnosis goes beyond surface-level symptoms to explore deeper patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating. It helps clinicians understand not just what symptoms a person has, but why those symptoms exist within the context of their personality organization and life history.

Key topics include personality organization levels (healthy, neurotic, and borderline structures), defense mechanisms, attachment patterns, and emotional regulation styles. The course also highlights how therapists can use empathy, clinical observation, and narrative understanding to build a comprehensive psychological profile of a client.

Special attention is given to the importance of therapeutic relationship dynamics and how early life experiences shape adult personality functioning. The framework emphasizes a non-pathologizing approach, focusing on understanding the person rather than labeling disorders.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to apply psychodynamic principles in clinical evaluation, improve case formulation skills, and develop a deeper understanding of human behavior from a psychodynamic perspective. This makes it highly valuable for psychology students, therapists, and mental health professionals.