ABOUT OUR COUNSELLING

What is Psychodynamic Counselling?

Also known as Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, psychodynamic counselling provides you with a unique combination of the opportunity to explore anything you might be finding difficult or painful at the moment within a confidential, safe space.  At your own pace, we will explore your past experiences and look together at how those may be affecting what’s happening today.  This often leads to a greater self-awareness and a more profound insight into what is making you feel the way you do and offer opportunities to change.

 

What are the sessions like?

Sessions last for 50 minutes and typically take place once a week.

Psychodynamic Counsellors wait for you to speak.  This waiting can feel difficult, equally maybe you find talking to someone difficult, or feel as if the counsellor isn’t helping you by being silent but it doesn’t mean that the process isn’t working.  The counsellor is interested in your experience and what is happening in your mind.  By allowing you to begin the session, it allows you to bring what you need to focus on including, perhaps, possible feelings about your therapist.  By allowing you to start the session in your own way, that period of silence frees the process from expectations and allows you to talk about whatever is on your mind at the time.  As the sessions continue the therapist is building their understanding of your own circumstances and feelings and will, over time, point out difficulties about certain things or even about being silent or talking.

 

Does it work for everybody?

Therapy Today found that most people (80%) say they feel better after seeing a counsellor.  A 2017 meta-analysis of several studies showed that counselling had a significant short-term effect on symptoms, and that psychodynamic counselling had significantly higher long-term improvement in overall mental health and wellness as compared with other forms of therapy.

It can, however, be a difficult process as you are likely to want to discuss painful and personal things and this can feel unusual especially if you haven’t had counselling before.

 

How will I feel after counselling?

This varies.  If we get the opportunity to sufficiently work through the troubles you’re having, you will start not only to recognise the benefits but experience them in your every day life and relationships.  Many clients describe feeling better able to deal with life’s ups and downs or accepting difficult experiences from their past.  Some people also say they feel they are able to live a more authentic life after therapy with lower levels of anxiety and depression.

 

How many sessions will I need?

This depends on a number of things and we don’t work to a set number of sessions.  Our counselling is open-ended so you can continue as long as you find it beneficial, and when you are ready to end counselling we will work through that ending together.

 

We hope this answers your questions but if you would like more information or have other questions, please do get in touch for a call to discuss your requirements further.  We look forward to meeting you.

Therapy Today found that most people (80%) say they feel better after seeing a counsellor.