Based on psychoanalytic theories, Psychodynamic therapy aims to help you understand your present difficulties in respect of your unique personal history and current overall life situation; individuals from all different backgrounds can benefit from psychodynamic work. The therapy attempts to acknowledge, explore and, if appropriate revise how you think about yourself and your relationships. This may involve discovering feelings and attitudes which have been unconsciously affecting your life. These feelings and attitudes may have prevented you living your life as you would like to.
Psychodynamic therapy is helpful to people who wish to understand themselves and their difficulties better, rather than only seeking symptom control. Research has shown it is helpful for individuals who are experiencing anxiety and depression; recurrent difficulties in relationships; low self esteem and feeling stuck in unhappy relationship patterns and who have experienced childhood trauma (e.g. loss, abuse).
Although there may be a specific problem (e.g. bereavement, relationship breakdown)that brings an individual in to therapy,
this approach may be beneficial to any individual who feels dissatisfied and/or unhappy with their individual life circumstances.Starting therapyWe will first arrange an initial consultation of two 50 minute sessions which are spaced no more than one week apart. This will provide an opportunity to for us to meet and to further explore your reasons for coming to therapy at this time and whether or not this is suitable for your individual needs. At this point there is no commitment to on-going work.
If you do decide to continue, together we would agree upon regular times, and day(s) on a weekly, on-going basis. Each session lasts for 50 minutes. The establishment of regularity of time and place is an important element within the therapy as it assists in creating a secure and containing structure, which is fundamental to the overall psychotherapeutic process.
