What patients want from a therapy for themselves can be a good indicator of whether a psychodynamic approach is likely to be appropriate. The following are unlikely to benefit from psychodynamic psychotherapy but may benefit from a different approach, for example cognitive behavioral therapy:

• Wants to learn better coping strategies. 
• Wants simply to get over the present crisis. 
• Wants a quick fix' solution or cure. 
• Is convinced the problems are only physically based rather than being able to think of them in psychological terms.