WHAT IS PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a long-term talking treatment that can get to the underlying causes of emotional and psychological difficulties, ultimately helping people to feel freer and more in control of their lives. Rather than being a one-size-fits-all programme of advice or guidance, it is a deeply personal treatment which aims to develop and strengthen the individual personality over time.
The basic set-up is a once-weekly session established over a medium- to long-term timeframe. This can range from as brief as several months to a few years in duration. An important consideration is that it can be open-ended, i.e. for as long as you need it.
The style of psychodynamic psychotherapy is very much a free and exploratory personal conversation, always led by what is important to you and not directed by the therapist. The main “instruction” in a therapy session is for you to try to say what is really on your mind, to tune in to what you are really experiencing in the present moment, even if it is something unexpected or difficult to talk about. It is different from bringing a prepared story and might take some getting used to as you settle into the therapy process. A typical session might involve talking about your current life, your problems, your relationships, your upbringing, your private fantasies and wishes; but moment-to-moment it is led by what occurs to you, what pops into your head in the here-and-now.
With this method we explore your mind and your personality and we tend to see that certain themes keep coming up, which we can become familiar with and start to understand. I pay attention to the dynamics and patterns in your relationships, including present-day difficulties in significant relationships and in the developing relationship with me in the therapy, and how these can both be influenced by formative relationships from the past. I try to understand what may be out of your conscious awareness, in order to help you appreciate the unconscious influences on your present-day life.
In psychodynamic work the therapist is not just there to agree with you. It can be said that the therapist needs to strike a balance between being a supportive listener and someone who can challenge you and help you confront your own role in the difficulties you face.
CAN IT HELP?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy can help people experiencing a range of mental health and personal difficulties. It is of most help if you are motivated to understand yourself better and are prepared to dedicate time to this. It can be challenging and painful along the way, but ultimately rewarding, as you gain relief from being able to share more of your “real” self with another person and start to feel more self-aware and in charge of your life. The style of therapy is not suited to everybody, however. If you are seeking more of a “quick fix” or specific advice and guidance, you might find the style of therapy frustrating. There are also particular circumstances and mental health conditions where psychodynamic psychotherapy might not be appropriate, which I can advise on.
WORKING ONLINE
Modern technology does allow for a remarkably good human connection across geographical distance, though online therapy has its differences from in-person work. In online work, there is greater reliance on the patient to set up and maintain an adequate setting for therapy – essentially, between the two of us and the two separate spaces occupied, we are trying to recreate the atmosphere and privacy of a consulting room.
You need to be somewhere where you will not be interrupted or overhead for the duration of the session, and seated or reclined in a way that is comfortable, so you can relax a bit. You can have as much or as little eye contact as you wish. It can also help to leave some time for yourself both before and after each session, so that there is some transition between therapy and your life outside.
TECHNOLOGY ASPECTS
It is fine to experiment a bit with set-ups until something works well and feels right, but the following pointers may help:
– Use a modern device with adequate RAM and processing power;
– Use an Ethernet cable (instead of Wi-Fi or mobile data) for a more stable internet connection (a powerline adapter can be used if the broadband router is situated elsewhere);
– Minimise other broadband traffic for the duration of your session;
– Station your device on a stable surface; and
– Position any light sources in front of you as opposed to behind.
FEES AND TERMS
My session fee for psychotherapy is 90€. Sessions are 50 minutes long and require a commitment to a weekly slot. Face-to-face sessions are paid for at the clinic each time. For those working online, invoices are sent monthly by e-mail. All arranged sessions are billable unless a minimum of one week’s notice is given for absences.
FOR OTHER PROFESSIONALS
I am able to offer psychodynamically-informed supervision and/or consultation to other professionals upon arrangement. This could be about applying a psychodynamic focus to other types of psychotherapeutic practice, or assistance with understanding the relational dynamics and unconscious processes in any healthcare work.