Trained in the psychodynamic approach, I normally work with individuals on a once-weekly basis, although I do sometimes offer twice weekly sessions depending on the client’s needs.  Psychodynamic therapy has developed from psychoanalytic theory and practice and is concerned with exploring how our ways of relating to ourselves and others are shaped by our early history.  In an attempt to deal with the anxiety or emotional pain caused by conflicts and difficult past experiences, we often develop defences or coping mechanisms which may serve us well at first but all too often become problematic over the course of our lives as our circumstances and needs change.  Because such defences or patterns of thinking or behaviour often develop outside conscious awareness, they have a tendency to become entrenched and repetitive.  

Working in a confidential and containing space the role of the psychodynamic therapist is to listen, to make links between past and present and to identify patterns of relating, thereby providing the client an opportunity to uncover defences and conflicts which continue to exert a powerful influence.  Psychodynamic therapy is based on the premise that through greater awareness and understanding of how we have come to be as we are, and a growing ability to think and reflect on our experience, we develop the potential for greater choice in our lives.

I have also been trained in:

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT), a time limited, more focused model of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy which explores problematic interpersonal patterns that may have developed early on but which are no longer helpful. Identifying such patterns and finding new, more effective ways of relating can have a very powerful effect on overall mood and self esteem.  This model takes place over 16 or 26 sessions depending on the complexity of your difficulties.

Mentalisation Based Therapy (MBT), which helps to make sense of our thoughts, beliefs, wishes and feelings and to link these to our actions and behaviours.  Mentalisation is a normal capacity that we all use in everyday life, and underpins all human relationships.  However, some people find it more difficult to mentalise in certain situations than others.  MBT is particularly useful for people who have difficulties with interpersonal relationships and who experience overwhelming feelings which may result in destructive behaviours such as self-harm, substance misuse and aggression towards others.