FAQ

Who is it for?

Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic psychotherapy can help with a range of psychological problems, particularly difficulties that can impact on relationships:

depression
anxiety disorders
relationship difficulties
post traumatic difficulties
couple difficulties
personality difficulties

Note. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is not recommended for psychotic illness, but can be very helpful in relapse prevention and when a psychotic episode has come to an end.

What to expect

Consultation:

Before starting therapy, we offer a detailed consultation over 2–6 meetings to understand your needs and determine if this approach is right for you.

The consultation gives you and your therapist an idea of whether talking to someone in this way is going to help you or not. At the end of the consultation your therapist helps you to think about the most appropriate treatment for you.

If you are offered psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy, you may have to wait for a treatment vacancy to become available. If you do have to wait, there are links on the website that helps you to access appropriate support during this time.

Length of Treatment:

Sessions last for 50 minutes and usually take place once a week with the same therapist.

The length of treatment varies depending on individual needs. Therapy typically lasts around one year, but some people may have a shorter course of about four sessions, while others may continue for up to two years.

The Therapy Process:

In psychoanalytic/psychodynamic psychotherapy, your therapist will encourage you to talk about whatever is on your mind. At times, this may feel like silence, but it’s part of the process, your therapist is listening carefully and interested in what you think and feel.

As sessions progress, you might notice feelings that arise about the therapist or the therapy itself. These are an important part of understanding your experiences and patterns of relating to others.

There are no right or wrong things to say. The aim is to explore your thoughts and feelings freely. Your therapist will help you notice if certain topics feel difficult to talk or think about, and together you can explore what might be getting in the way.

Although talking can be helpful, we recognise it isn’t always easy. So a part of the therapy is to understand why that might be.

How effective is this approach?

Research and clinical evidence show that psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy are effective treatments for a range of mental health difficulties, from mild to more complex conditions.

According to NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines, psychodynamic approaches can be beneficial for people experiencing depression, personality difficulties, and other long-term emotional problems.

Clinical studies have also found that combining psychotherapy with antidepressant medication can significantly reduce depressive symptoms compared to medication alone (Driessen et al., 2015).

In addition, research suggests that for people with somatic symptom disorders, physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition. Short-term psychoanalytic therapy may be more effective than other treatment approaches (Leichsenring et al., 2009).

Overall, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapies can bring lasting benefits by helping individuals develop greater self-understanding, emotional resilience, and improved relationships with others.

What are the potential risks of this approach?

Talking and thinking about emotional difficulties can be challenging, and it’s natural that some people may feel worse before they start to feel better. Strong emotions can surface as part of the therapeutic process, and your therapist will work with you to understand and manage these feelings safely.

At times, therapy can bring up feelings such as anger, sadness, or a sense of being criticised. Exploring painful memories or aspects of the past can be difficult, but your therapist will help you to go at a pace that feels manageable.

Therapists recognise and respect your limits, and there is no expectation to discuss anything before you are ready. Likewise, therapists are aware of their own limits and work within their professional boundaries to ensure that therapy remains safe and supportive.

Who do I speak to if I am experiencing difficulties with the therapy process?

It’s common to experience challenges during the therapy process, and it can sometimes feel uncomfortable to talk about these with your therapist. However, we encourage you to share any concerns or difficulties as part of your therapy — this can often be an important and helpful part of the work.

You will have regular review sessions with your therapist, which provide a good opportunity to discuss how the therapy is going and whether any changes are needed.

If you do not feel able to raise your concerns directly with your therapist, you are welcome to contact the service lead to talk through your experience and explore any next steps.

What happens if I need to cancel an appointment?

Sometimes cancellations are unavoidable from both service user and clinician and that’s okay! However, the cancellations of appointments will be monitored by each clinician and if any patterns could be identified this will be discussed with you.

If you choose to not attend an assessment appointment an opt in letter will be sent to which you will need to reply in order to arrange another appointment. If a response is not received within two week, unfortunately this will lead to discharge.

If this is the case then a written confirmation of your discharge will be sent to you, your GP and any other professionals involved in your mental health care.

How is my information stored and kept confidential?

We keep brief clinical notes to support your care. These are stored securely on an encrypted NHS electronic record system and can only be accessed by professionals directly involved in your treatment.

Your information is treated with the highest level of confidentiality. We would only share information outside the team if we are concerned about your safety, or the safety of someone else and we would aim to discuss this with you first whenever possible.

If you have any questions or concerns about how your information is stored, or about maintaining your privacy when contacting our service from home, please speak to your clinician or a member of the service team.