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Understanding Psychodynamic Therapy: A Journey to Self-Discovery



I'm Hannah Downing, a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist. My private practice is in Reigate and I also provide remote sessions by video.


Psychodynamic therapy seeks to explore, together with the therapist, what might be driving the obstacles that you face today. This type of therapy has at its core an understanding that much of our behaviour is driven by what we are not presently aware of, namely, our unconscious.


What is Psychodynamic Therapy?


Exploring unconscious processes and past experiences is in the foreground in psychodynamic therapy. Our early lives were once all we ever knew and would have become our normality. We can't consciously recall our very early lives, much of which became internalised, functioning as the blueprints or foundations deeply nested within ourselves today. These internalised foundations are what drives much of our behaviour, and which is often behind the obstacles that we face.


We can use our logic, mental strength, healthy coping mechanisms, exercise and even our jobs to distract ourselves, but if our issues are rooted in the unconscious, it is possible that the same issues repeatedly return, forming an uncomfortable pattern overtime. This can be a frustrating task because overcoming issues can begin to feel unsolvable and out of reach. In psychodynamic therapy, the therapist works together with the client, helping the client to gain more awareness of what was previously out of reach in the unconscious mind.


Psychodynamic therapy is rooted in psychoanalysis. Where clients would be required to attend psychoanalytic therapy 3-5 times per week, psychodynamic therapy usually requires regular attendance once a week. In this respect, it can be seen as a more accessible form of psychoanalysis in terms of time and money. Although psychodynamic therapists can home-in on particular theories, many are more independent in their work, drawing upon theories relevant to each client. Those who have trained as psychodynamic therapists would usually have an in-depth understanding of both traditional and modern psychoanalytic theories, have engaged in both personal therapy for themselves and group work over a period of 3-5 years as part of their training and completed a clinical placement for several years prior to beginning to work as therapists in private practice. Psychodynamic therapists who are registered with membership bodies must be in regular supervision and commit to regular continued professional development.


Key Principles of Psychodynamic Therapy


  • Unconscious Mind: Our unconscious thoughts and feelings influence our behaviour. It's less mysterious than many believe and can be understood perhaps more logically by considering that there are parts of ourselves and behaviours that we are not aware of (consider when we drive a car on auto-pilot!).

  • Childhood Experiences: Our early experiences were internalised, creating the foundations that shape our current emotional and relational patterns. Much of these early experiences is often in our unconscious mind.

  • Defense Mechanisms: We protect ourselves from what our unconscious minds perceive as a risk to ourselves. Anxiety acts as an indicator of this perceived danger, often triggering action within ourselves to avoid this perceived danger. Sometimes, this sense of danger is relating to an avoided emotion surfacing. Defence mechanisms act to protect us from perceived danger and defence mechanisms form part of our behaviour.

  • Transference: When we smile, the world smiles with us and indeed, when we are angry, we can often make those around us feel the same way. We project our feelings into others frequently. Transference is the feeling that one gets from another. Counter-transference is how one person encourages or pulls another to act/behave in a certain way. Psychodynamic therapy makes use of transference and counter-transference in the work. The therapist can use this to gain a notion of the client's internal world, revealing significant feelings and relationship patterns overtime.


Benefits of Psychodynamic Therapy


  • Self-Awareness: Committing to psychodynamic therapy can be immensely rewarding, especially from gaining insight into one’s own thoughts and emotions. It can be an unsettling thought to consider that there are parts of the self that we are not aware of, but equally, very meaningful and relieving to then discover some of these parts.

  • Emotional Growth: Engaging in psychodynamic therapy over time, especially through exploring the roots of behaviour, can lead to healthier relationships and a healthier relationship within the self, especially to our feelings. An overall aim might be to get to a point where all of the emotions, even the less pleasant ones, are permitted and have their place.

  • Long-Term Change: Psychodynamic therapy does not seek to provide coping mechanisms to live with issues or for symptom relief. Instead, it aims for deep-rooted and meaningful change.


Who Can Benefit?


  • In my practice, I work with clients with presenting symptoms/obstacles/ diagnoses such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, autism, addiction, divorce, relationship issues, identity issues, trauma (PTSD and CPTSD), perimenopause and menopause. There are a wide range of issues that psychodynamic therapy can help with.

  • Psychodynamic therapy can be helpful for those looking for deeper understanding of themselves.


What to Expect in a Session


  • I see my clients initially for 1-3 sessions so that I can gain a better picture of what's been going on and to see if therapy with me could be beneficial. This also gives my clients a feel for me as their therapist and the room/online space. This initial period involves me asking more questions. At the end of this initial period, we will discuss how we will work together, for how long and go through any questions.

  • Once therapy begins, the sessions are held on the same day and at the same time each week and last for 50 minutes. The client can use the session to speak about anything that comes to mind. Overtime, a therapeutic relationship is established.

  • The therapeutic relationship is a collaborative one where we work together on a deeper level, focusing more on the client's internal world.


Conclusion


  • For various reasons, many people find themselves facing struggles that can feel impossible to overcome alone. When considering psychodynamic therapy as a potential route to overcoming these struggles, it can be useful to learn more about it first, hence why I have written this piece.

  • If you feel that psychodynamic therapy could potentially be suitable for you and would like to learn more about my practice (in-person or remotely), please contact me to organise a call or book an initial consultation.


Contact

Hannah Downing, MSc, MBACP


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