I am often asked questions about Psychodynamic Therapy and the services I provide. These Frequently Asked Questions may assist you.
Q: Is Psychodynamic Therapy right for me?
A: It isn’t for everybody. Psychodynamic Therapy is not an alternative to immediate psychiatric care if you are in crisis. To make good use of therapy, it would be helpful to be in a position where you can commit to the time needed to explore your thoughts and feelings. Do not underestimate how powerful an experience this can be.
Q: Is Psychodynamic Counselling the same as Psychotherapy?
A: That’s an excellent question and the differences are very nuanced. A debate has raged amongst professionals for many years about this and it won’t be over any time soon. The most important thing is the relationship you have with your therapist and the skill that the therapist has. Even though I have a Masters Degree and am studying for a Doctorate, if you weren’t comfortable with me then that is all for nothing. I offer a free 30 minute consultation so that we can find out more about each other. Click here to get in touch.
Q: So what is Psychodynamic Therapy then?
A: It is a talking therapy based on the original works of Sigmund Freud. Over the years it has been developed by many great people. But at the basic level, it is the examination of innermost thoughts and feelings and how they are affecting us daily. For example you may wake up everyday feeling anxious and that may be inhibiting your quality of life. We can work together to discover the hidden reasons for this anxiety and re-process those hidden feelings and experiences to assist in banishing the anxiety. More on Psychodynamic Therapy can be found here.
Q: How do I know I am getting a good service from you?
A: I take my practice very seriously and abide by the Ethical Framework of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. (BACP). I also have monthly supervision from another highly qualified therapist. We go over my case load in detail to ensure that I am working in the best and most effective way for you.
Q: Are sessions truly confidential?
A: You can talk about anything you wish during a session. There are some occasions where I may have to speak to others. 1) Safeguarding 2) Disclosure of Serious Criminality 3) Money Laundering 4) Terrorism.
I have a privacy policy in place, you can read it here.
Q: Do I have to attend for a set number of sessions?
A: Absolutely not. You control when therapy begins and ends. I do recommend that when you feel that therapy is naturally coming to an end for you then let me know. We can work towards that ending so that things are not left up in the air on the last session. Some people only need short term work, others prefer to work over a prolonged period. There is no right or wrong. It’s about what works for you.
Q: Can I have therapy over the telephone.
A: As a general rule, no. Therapy simply does not work as well over the phone. If you are already in weekly therapy and you need to take a session to the phone due to a holiday or emergency then we can discuss.
Q: I have seen therapy websites that say I can change my therapist as often as I want. That makes sense right?
A: That model of working can enable a client to avoid talking about some of their hardest material. In my humble opinion it is not a good way to work. When things get tough, and they might, then simply walking away and starting again does you no favours at all.
I hope these Frequently Asked Questions have been of use to you. If you have further questions or would like a free 30 minute consultation then please do get in touch. Call or text me on 07396 737999.