Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

What is it?

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is an intensive process focussed on assisting people to tackle difficulties including mental health problems, issues in relationships and work, and repetitive patterns of feeling, thinking, and relating impacting upon living a more fulfilled and satisfied life. It is based on the theory and practice of psychoanalysis, which is primarily concerned with how features of our internal life - especially those which are outside of our conscious awareness - can have a marked impact. One’s mind and ‘internal world’, including emotional processes, is significantly shaped by early experiences in life, and these often have an impact upon how the ‘outside world’, others, and relationships are experienced. This often results in repetitive and entrenched difficulties and a great deal of pain.

The aim of psychotherapy is to assist people to better know and understand themselves and the workings of their mind and ‘internal world’ (mental and emotional life). This includes the fantasies, tricks and illusions that one engages in which can get in the way of emotional growth. The primary task of therapy is to speak openly, freely and without censorship; you will be encouraged to speak about whatever comes to mind, which is a difficult process but so important in assisting you to find a way through your problems. With insight and knowledge, a richer and more real sense of oneself develops, and new decisions and choices become possible. The work is intensive, and therapist and patient meet at least once per week, and often more – this is needed to ensure space and containment for the process to develop. Thus, the therapist and patient share a firm commitment to the process as it develops and grows over time. A therapeutic relationship develops, unlike relationships with friends or family, and this is an important opportunity to further therapeutic understanding and progress. 

 
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What To Expect?

The first three sessions are dedicated to an assessment of what approach would be best for you and your presenting difficulties. If psychoanalytic psychotherapy is recommended, we will then discuss when and how often to meet. A regular weekly time, or times, is given to patients in ongoing psychotherapy. Sessions are 50 mins long, and begin and end on time.

You are encouraged to say whatever comes to mind, and to explore associations to material that you speak about. It’s important to talk about your dreams, they are significant and can help shed light on your experiences.  Furthermore, it is important to speak about your daydreams and fantasies, and to bring up material which may feel embarrassing, shameful, trivial or irrelevant. 

 

What can psychoanalytic psychotherapy assist with?

  • Depression and anxiety, particularly where these issues have a longstanding pattern and have not responded well to shorter term approaches

  • Personality difficulties and disorders

  • Relationship difficulties, including problems in forming and maintaining relationships

  • Difficulties with trauma, grief and loss

  • Physical symptoms with an underlying emotional basis, including psychosomatic reactions

  • Emotional, physical or sexual abuse

  • Issues related to sex, sexuality and gender

 

For further information please have a look at the Resources page of this website.