What is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Many people who come to psychotherapy experience some sort of distress or unhappiness. This could be a general sense of dissatisfaction with life, or could be focussed around a partcular issue or difficult life event. These issues could include:
Anxiety and depression
Self harm
Suicidal feelings
Panic attacks
Eating disorders or difficulties with body image and food
Low self esteem
Relationship difficulties
Sexual or physical abuse
Stressful or traumatic life events
Grief and loss
Sometimes there might be something going on in your life that you cannot understand or control, leading to feelings of unhappiness. These feelings might be the cause of hasty decisions or actions that you regret.
Or coping strategies such as self harm, over-eating or addictions that are detrimental to your well-being.
Psychotherapy provides a safe and confidential setting to speak openly about the things youre struggling with.
It provides the opportunity to make sense of why you are feeling the way that you do and to understand underlying difficulties. It may also help you to understand what is preventing you from changing.
Many people who struggle with negative thoughts would think positively if they could. No matter how much they try they cannot simply replace negative thoughts with positive ones. This approach aims to understand what it is that stops you from being more positive about yourself and others.
Emotional difficulties are caused by thoughts and feelings that we are not always consciously aware of.
These underlying difficulties or unhelpful patterns of relating can stem from the past and this can influence the way you interpret current events. Understanding the past and how it has shaped you, can help you to live more fully in the present.
Sessions are fifty minutes long. They are once a week at a regular time to ensure a sense of continuity and containment.
Who can it help?
Psychotherapy is appropriate for anyone who is interested in exploring their inner thoughts and feelings and gaining greater self understanding.