Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy tries to understand the reasons behind emotional distress and relationship difficulties.

It can help you understand how past experiences, current ways of thinking and relating and anxieties about the future are causing difficulties in your present life.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on the assumption that part of our mind works outside of our conscious awareness and that early experiences in life are important in later development. These experiences lay down patterns of and of dealing with feelings, life’s challenges and ways of relating to others.

What does it involve?

During the therapy sessions, you will be encouraged to talk as freely as you can and to explore your feelings, anxieties, memories, experiences, dreams, fantasies and wishes.

Your therapist will listen carefully to what you say and how you say it. At times, he/she will feedback their understanding to you.

S/he is likely to pay particular attention to the relationship that grows between the two of you. This can help you learn something about your past and present relationships.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy does not involve medication.

However, if you are being prescribed tablets, it will be best to discuss this with your therapist to make sure that medication does not interfere with your thinking processes.

Who can benefit?

Psychotherapy can be an effective treatment for a range of problems.

Perhaps you are feeling:

unable to cope or to resolve conflicts;
burdened by resentment, disappointment or despair;
that family problems are too much to bear;
that it is very difficult to deal with stress or recover from stressful situations;
lonely, empty, depressed or that you have to deal with extreme mood change;
anxious, “panicky” or unable to concentrate;
curious or anxious about your sexuality;
concerned about drinking or eating problems;
that you have to harm yourself to feel better;
that life is not worth living or that there is little hope for change.

You may be:

having difficulties in making or keeping relationships, or that you repeatedly become involved in unsatisfying or destructive relationships;
struggling with physical problems which are not easily explained or don’t fit into a diagnosis.

Getting the most from therapy

People who benefit most are usually those who want to understand themselves better and who are motivated to commit to the process, even when it involves facing emotional pain.

If you are relying on alcohol or other substances to help you to deal with your mood difficulties or with life, then you will need to think about minimising or stopping your alcohol/substance use completely to benefit from the therapy.

How long does therapy last?

Each session lasts for 50 minutes.

You will meet your therapist at the same time and in the same place on a weekly basis.

The number of therapy sessions people receive varies. If the difficulties you have been struggling with are long standing, then you may attend sessions over many months.