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. 

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.