Quiz - Is Psychodynamic Therapy For You?

Do this quick quiz to find out:

1. Are you a reflective person who often wonders about how your past has affected you now?

2. Do you want to decide what you talk about in sessions?

3. Are you too busy to do homework and prefer to reflect when you can in between session instead?

4. Are you willing to explore the conflict that cause you stress, pain or difficulty in your life?

5. Would you like to feel comfortable with your therapist, in a supportive space, so that you can discuss deeper thoughts?

6. Would you like to know how your therapist makes sense of the patterns, behaviors, and experiences?

7. Are you interested in understanding the underlying reasons as to why you do what you do?

8. Are you willing to work on yourself over time in order to make sustainable long term changes?

If you answered yes to two or more questions you would likely be rewarded greatly from psychodynamic therapy. Through understanding yourself, your behaviours and your past, comes the ability to overcome difficulties and grow.

By Magdalena Lopez

Psychologist

What is Psychodynamic Counselling?

This counselling style is known for its ability to target the root cause of symptoms and mental illness. Stemming from Psychoanalysis, it's technically rich and complex but for the purposes of a short blog let me highlight 1 or 2 features.

It is also known as "insight orientated" therapy, and it primarily focuses on unconscious processes that, at times, may cause a person to behave in unhelpful ways.

These unconscious processes, (which are unknown to us), create internal battles between our thoughts and feelings. Akin to a tug-a-war in our minds if you will, between what we desire and what we think we should or should not do.

Unfortunately, we can't always do or get what we want in life, so in order to find a solution, we may end up compromising ourselves in ways that may hinder all the more. The end result might often be the appearance of symptoms, for example, unexplained anxiety or depressed mood, nightmares or even some physical aches and pains that have little or no explanation. Left long enough, these symptoms may develop into more severe mental health issues and consequently, create difficulties in other areas of your life, such as relationships, work issues and a general sense of unhappiness or worry.

Who can benefit from Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic counselling is used to treat a variety of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, trauma and personality disorders. It is also helpful for those of you who want to obtain more insight and self-development in your lives.

As a Psychologist, I work with a wide range of complex mental health issues to everyday concerns such as trouble at work, difficulty at home with your partner, feeling you're not where you want to be in life or even struggling with some feelings of sadness, guilt, shame or anger that you can't shake off. For more about this effective counselling style, click here.

Take some time to think about whether having some space to talk about some of your experiences with a Psychologist may be helpful.

by Psychologist Magdalena Lopez

About Me: I'm a caring & compassionate Psychologist in Melbourne, helping adults, couples and families in counselling who have anxiety, depression or relationship concerns, live a happier, healthier life.