Intrapsychic Restructuring (IR)
Intrapsychic Restructuring (IR) is the Intrapsychic-Biological Substrate
Definition:
Intrapsychic Restructuring (IR) comprises a large body of treatment techniques and sub-methods (Defensive Restructuring, Cognitive Restructuring, Affective Restructuring, Cognitive-behavioral Restructuring & Neurobiological Restructuring) designed to reorganize and restructure processes/structures/functions that operate within the mind/brain of the individual. Thus, IR operates primarily at Level I (intrapsychic-biological matrix) of the total ecological system and is thus the most microscopic perspective of analysis. Within this level techniques which impact cognitive, relational, and attachment schemata, affective-defensive processes, anxiety regulation, and neurobiological functions.
Function:
To enhance adaptive responses at the intrapsychic level of operation.
Goals of Restructuring:
Create enhanced differentiation and integration among components of the intrapsychic system including neurobiological networks, defense-anxiety-affect loops, limbic system regulation etc
- Subtypes of Intrapsychic Restructuring:
- Defensive Restructuring: focus on defensive operations
- Cognitive Restructuring: focus on cognitive schema, templates, and beliefs
- Affective Restructuring: focus on affective process and emotional experiencing
- Cognitive-Behavioral Restructuring: focus on behavioral, cognitive-affective experience and learning
- Neurobiological Restructuring: focus on neurobiological pathways, states and neurodynamic processes
Techniques:
- Defensive Restructuring
- Intensification of defense (Perls, 1969)
- Clarification of defense (Reich, 1933; Davanloo, 1980)
- Educating about defenses (McCullough, 1997)
- Disrupting defenses by blocking defensive operations (Ferenczi, 1925; Reich, 1933)
- Cataloging defenses (Davanloo, 1980; Magnavita, 1997)
