What do we mean by psychodynamic counselling?

Let’s start with the word itself.
Psychodynamic is a fusion of ‘Psyche’, which refers to all aspects of the mind, including our emotional and spiritual self. ‘Dynamic’, implies the changes and activity that is constantly at work within us throughout life.
Put simply, it suggests a way of working that understands we are beings with complex inner lives. We are inhabited by many different patterns & parts, & we believe the best way to alleviate internal suffering is to understand how to bring the dynamic psyche into alignment with all of our needs, drives & core identity.

The psychodynamic approach helps you understand yourself in depth. It can reveal insights into the way your mind works, how and why you feel and behave the way you do, how you relate to both yourself and others. It focuses on you as a whole person, not solely on your symptoms, and aims to get to the root of your problems.

Our counsellors are trained in the highest standards of psychodynamic work that we host, monitor & continuously improve over time. They can hold a space for you to work through the complexities of your story, safely, stably, & for good.

How does it work?

Sometimes what happened long ago continues to cast a shadow over us.
By reflecting, carefully, consciously, we can separate past, present, & self, see things more clearly, & uncover clues on how to lead the life we feel we should.

Because so much of our lives are governed by our unconscious – those parts of ourselves that are completely hidden from our own view – we can take on patterns of behaviour that we may not even be aware of.
Even for those that we understand about ourselves – for instance, our coping mechanisms, these patterns can break down & cease to serve us.
You may find yourself in a life that isn’t being lived, but rather ruled, tyrannised, by some experience, or set of experiences.

We require a special set of circumstances to investigate the source of our own conflict, & uncover these patterns in our behaviour. The outside world is distracting, noisy, & largely stops us from making space for our own deep reflections, or inhibits them to the point where they become self-limiting.

Psychodynamic counselling opens a space for you to work through yourself, offering a unique kind of clarity & consistency, like your own personal portal to your inner life.

What’s it like to have psychodynamic counselling?

Psychodynamic counselling takes place weekly, on the same day, at the same time. Sessions are always with the same counsellor. The structure of the counselling creates a sense of predictability and continuity, within a trusting partnership between you and your counsellor.

In your sessions you are free to talk about whatever you want at a pace that feels manageable. There is never any expectation or pressure to talk about anything if you’re not ready to. Instead, the time and space with your counsellor is where you can openly and safely explore what’s going on in your life, how you feel, what you think, your relationships with others, your dreams, ideas and fantasies. Its an explorative approach, where your counsellor will meet you with empathy and curiosity, and without judgement or shame.

Unlike more behavioural approaches, such as CBT, your counsellor will not tell you what to do, give you advice or ‘homework’. Instead, they actively listen and attend closely to what you bring from session to session. In this way, you will be supported to access your own solutions and generate inner resilience, in ways that support you beyond the completion of your counselling.

Interested in having counselling with The Counselling Centre? Click here to make a first appointment.