What is psychoanalytic psychotherapy and how can it help?
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an intensive therapy based on the theory and practice of psychoanalysis. It offers a consistent and reliable setting in which difficulties can be explored. Difficult experiences throughout life, and especially during childhood, can have lasting effects on how people think and feel and on how they relate to others. Some of these may be easy to understand, but there may be others that are more difficult to be aware of, leading to feelings and behaviours that are unwanted and difficult to comprehend and which seem closed to change.
Psychotherapy aims to help you understand what your past relationships and life experiences mean to you, and the ways in which they may be affecting your life now.
It offers a reliable setting, with regular sessions in which you can bring whatever is on your mind - feelings, thoughts, dreams and memories. The therapy will help you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, opening the way to change.
If you would like to know more, an e-publication entitled 'What is psychoanalytic psychotherapy?' is available as a free download from the British Psychoanalytic Council.
Who comes for therapy?
People often come after they've tried other types of therapy that don't work in the long term. Others want to understand themselves better, perhaps feeling there is something missing in their lives, but they don't know what it is. Many feel that their friends and families aren't helpful, or they don't want to burden them, or feel ashamed of their problems. I am experienced in working with individuals who are experiencing many types of problem such as with relationships, depression, anxiety, bereavement, divorce or job loss, work related problems, eating disorders, traumatic life events, physical symptoms or people who are experiencing feelings of emptiness and meaninglessness.