The Five Core Benefits of Psychodynamic Counselling

One of the most interesting things about working with Psychodynamic counselling is that it provides several benefits both in the short term and across time. Here are a few points to consider:

1.       Relief of symptoms and distress. In some cases almost instantly.

Engaging in therapy with a caring and compassionate therapist allows people to talk freely and openly about whatever is on their mind without judgment. Relief can be felt almost instantly when you embark on this journey. The realisation that you are starting to take charge and become pro-active about your mental health is empowering and brings hope.

2.       Feeling immediately supported, understood and accepted.

Friends and family are often helpful when it comes to trying to resolve everyday concerns, however, they don't have the technical tools that a qualified psychologist has in order to assist further.

Talking to a warm, calm and experienced psychologist can be a very reassuring experience. There are no expectations, nor homework to do with this style of therapy, just your wish to come in, tell your story and have an expert listen in ways that reduce your feelings of shame, pain and isolation.

3.       Allows the creation of new perspectives that haven't been previously considered.

Self-awareness begins to grow steadily as you explore different psychological layers about yourself throughout therapy. New perspectives become apparent and at the same time, your anxieties start to release alongside other symptoms.

Being able to identify your unconscious patterns (to mention a few: avoidance, people pleasing, overcompensating)  and gain a deeper understanding to what is triggering them, allows you to unlock unhelpful behaviours, and achieve clearer direction in your life.

4.       It continues to provide effectiveness across time even after the therapeutic process has come to an end.

The wonderful thing about psychotherapy is the lasting effects it has in each individual long after therapy has ended.

Creating fresh understandings and connections within yourself with the help of therapy has an enormous effect on the brain. Several studies have already been able to capture these physiological changes. (see article) therefore, psychotherapy helps you learn how to control and manage situations more effectively well after therapy has concluded.

 

5.       Increase in inner resources and coping tools.

Finally, insight or your self awareness is heightened in this process. Alongside it, comes the ability to connect better with others, and communicate your thoughts and feelings, in a more effective way. This change becomes second nature over time. Therapy progressively helps you  improve your self esteem, enjoy more satisfyingrelationships, increase your empathy and help you learn a far more useful ability to tackle difficulties in life more effectively and independently. It's worth it.

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. 

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only.  The information provided should not be used as a replacement for psychological assessment and treatment. There is no substitute for consultation with a qualified mental health specialist, or even a physician, who would be the best to evaluate and advise based on a careful, considered evaluation of all pertinent facts. Magdalena Lopez Psychology, shall have no liability for claims by, or damages of any kind whatsoever to users of this website. This website is not an emergency services resource, therefore if you are in immediate assistance, please dial 000 for emergency services or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Your use of this website constitutes your agreement to the above disclaimer.

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. 

Welcome

After many years of practicing as a Psychologist in Melbourne, I have decided to share a space for people who are interested in reading about deeper psychological perspectives regarding relationships, mental health concerns, and everyday issues mixed in with a spice of culture and language diversity.

I aim to write about a variety of topics in the hope that as a reader you may be able to relate, be curious and reflect on some of these ideas regarding your own life and people around you. Perhaps open up your desire to try therapy.

These blogs will be written from not only a theoretical point of view but also from my experience across the years that many wonderful clients have so graciously given me without knowing (thank you all!).

Through my blog, you may get a sense of my style of work as a therapist. For those of you who would like to understand yourselves intellectually, or your struggles with pain, happiness, self-esteem, and relationships, insightful thinking is the first step towards change.

My work is predominantly psychodynamic whilst encompassing other frameworks such as Cognitive Behavioural Tools, Mindfulness, and Acceptance - Commitment Therapy when needed. Most of my pieces will be more thoughtful in content, (reflecting my psychoanalytic training). However, for those of you that may often just want a quick read, I will also provide some tips.

Thanks for reading and showing curiosity....

Back soon.

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. 

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only.  The information provided should not be used as a replacement for psychological assessment and treatment. There is no substitute for consultation with a qualified mental health specialist, or even a physician, who would be the best to evaluate and advise based on a careful, considered evaluation of all pertinent facts. Magdalena Lopez Psychology, shall have no liability for claims by, or damages of any kind whatsoever to users of this website. This website is not an emergency services resource, therefore if you are in immediate assistance, please dial 000 for emergency services or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Your use of this website constitutes your agreement to the above disclaimer.

Three Key Ingredients to Effective Psychotherapy

I would like to talk to you about three key ingredients that contribute to effective therapy. These are by no means, the only ingredients that make therapy effective but they are the basic elements in with which to start.

Insight, otherwise known as self-awareness. An ability to understand the relationship between your own past history and the impact it has on current events on your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It's an internal process, a capacity to recognise something deeper about yourself. This allows you to identify the source of a lot of problems and gives you a chance to develop tools for change. It does require some deeper questioning and exploring of mind. Psychotherapy is built for just that. Even if you may not have much insight, we work together to guide you through the process and towards developing this capability.

Good rapport with the therapist be prepared to be open and engaged with your therapist. Allow for a professional relationship to develop where trust, honesty and mutual respect become a key feature that allows you to discuss all your concerns. You can imagine how difficult it can be if you didn't feel comfortable telling someone your story. Therapists are trained to facilitate this as they understand the array of feelings people can feel such as shame, anger, guilt.

Commitment to therapy  changes don't happen overnight or even in one session. So allow yourself to be patient, create a time where you can dedicate every week for 1hr to just be alone with your thoughts/feelings and your therapist. You deserve it. There aren't any quick fixes in therapy. The mind is a unique space, appreciate it and give it a chance to heal with your therapist.

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.