Blog: What is Psychodynamic Counselling?
If you have ever questioned why, you feel or react to certain situations in a particular way, or how you find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships or emotional responses, psychodynamic counselling may offer some answers and the potential to change.
Understanding the psychodynamic approach
Psychodynamic counselling is a talking therapy that gives you the space to explore how your past experiences, relationships and unconscious emotions influence your present. It is based on the idea that our early experiences shape how we see ourselves and those around us. Our past provides a blueprint for our unconscious reactions, behaviours and relationships. When we better understand this, we can bring these things into our consciousness which gives us the power to change.
We look at what is happening in your life right now, thinking about what defences or coping strategies you may be using which may be holding you back and start to explore how your past has played a part in this. Though we attempt to understand the past, we use this to move forwards, living beyond our experiences and helping us to improve mental health, develop meaningful relationships and build on our own sense of self. The aim is not just to manage symptoms, but to understand yourself more deeply, so that lasting change becomes possible.
A brief history
The psychodynamic approach has its roots with Sigmund Freud who started to think, for the first time about the unconscious and how it can shape our emotions and behaviours. Freud’s ideas have been developed and refined by key thinkers such as Carl Jung, Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott and Wilfred Bion, each offering further thought to the unconscious, and developing new ideas and theoretical approaches which have shaped therapy and understanding today.
What started as psychoanalysis with Freud, has developed into psychodynamic counselling/therapy (sometimes also called psychotherapy) which is more flexible, dyadic and suited to contemporary life. A good counsellor today recognises that you are the expert on your own life, and works collaboratively with you to explore your experiences, rather than analysing or interpreting from a distance, as early psychoanalysts may have approached things. What’s more ,psychodynamic therapy has evolved to embrace and value the diversity, gender, cultures and identities of our clients, while still preserving the depth and reflective insight at the heart of the psychoanalytic pioneers.
How Can It Help?
Psychodynamic counselling can help with a wide range of issues, including:
Anxiety and low mood
Relationship difficulties
Loss and bereavement
Identity and self-esteem issues
Trauma and unresolved past experiences
Feeling “stuck” or repeating unhelpful patterns
By understanding the roots of these struggles, you can begin to respond to life with more awareness, freedom, and self-compassion.
Counselling at Live Beyond Therapy
At Live Beyond Therapy, I offer a calm, reflective space in Chelmsford (or online) where you can begin to make sense of things. My experience is rooted in the psychodynamic approach where we work together to develop a deep personal understanding, rather than simply targeting your symptoms. The sessions are led by you, at your own pace. There is no homework and no agenda which allows us to explore deeper layers and give insight to bring about emotional freedom and genuine, long-lasting change.
I offer a free telephone consultation if you’d like to find out more about how the psychodynamic approach can help you.
