What is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a talking therapy.   It is an effective way of treating emotional, psychological and relationship problems.  Its aim is to help individuals to gain a better awareness and understanding of their patterns of behaviour and the meaning behind distressing symptoms.  Through this process individuals will gain an increased capacity for choice.

Psychotherapy is most helpful where there are issues causing us to have a sense of deep unhappiness.  Patterns of relating can appear fixed and repetitive;  life may feel "empty";  we can feel like we've just lost our way.   We may be  preoccupied with the past, which is causing problems in the present.  The problems we are struggling with in the present are often linked to past experiences; early traumatic experiences, losses and childhood insecurities.

Psychotherapy offers the opportunity to discover how old relationship patterns influence our choices now and encourages us, through the therapeutic relationship, to gain the courage to let go of old, unhelpful  ways of relating, in favour of new ones.



What is Counselling?

Counselling assists us in finding solutions to problems; in finding a way through crisis.  The work tends to be concentrated upon clarifying and gaining a clearer understanding of what the problems are and developing more effective coping mechanisms for the future.  Because of its focus on a particular problem or set of problems, counselling tends to be of shorter duration than psychotherapy, usually between six and sixteen weeks.  The decision to choose counselling or psychotherapy can be discussed at the initial appointment.



Couple Therapy

Couple therapy is effective as a tool in improving communication between partners; managing family transitions, such as the birth of a child, children leaving home; coming to terms with traumatic events, like when one partner has had an affair, the loss of a close family member; the loss of a job; loss of health;  and managing developmental changes within a relationship: through midlife and growing older.    Couple therapy  is also effective in helping a couple to manage the break-up of a relationship successfully, (divorce counselling) which is of enormous benefit, particularly when there are children involved and the couple need to focus on going on parenting together in a way which is effective for their children.

Through my training with Relate I am qualified to work with couples on any of the above issues which might impact upon the quality of your relationship together.  Couple therapy is usually of shorter-term duration.