Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is often referred to as talking therapy. It involves a therapist helping a person to understand their difficulties better and this in turn can facilitate a change in future thinking and behaviour. Psychotherapy involves reflecting on how a person experiences their emotions. We could say that the practise of psychotherapy is influenced by the theories of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939). Freud believed that peoples’ struggles came about as a result of repressed emotions. These emotions were so difficult to process as a child hence they were put out of the conscious awareness of one’s mind hence were made into unconscious/repressed thoughts. He believed that people could be cured of their emotional difficulties by making these unconscious thoughts conscious. This is achieved through talking. The conscious mind is the aspect of which we are aware. The unconscious mind is the portion of which a person is not aware, and where Freud theorised that exposes a person’s true emotions and thoughts.

The person is encouraged to talk about what it is they are struggling with. One may see a psychoanalytic psychotherapist one or more times each week. The psychoanalytic therapist will ask you to say whatever is going through your mind. The therapist will be very closely attuned and empathetic but does not usually give their opinions. This provides a safe and non-judgemental environment. The therapist listens closely to what is being said whilst picking up on patterns and hidden meanings to what is being communicated.

The aim of psychotherapy is to help someone to be able to lead a full life and have a more meaningful existence. As the aim is to get to the unconscious layers of the mind in order to reveal why the individual is struggling therapy can be lengthy. This could range from months to years.

Some of the common reasons that people usually see a therapist are for; depression, anxiety, stress at work and failing relationship patterns. There are many other reasons that may not be clear to the individual at the time of making contact but as therapy progresses the main reasons become apparent.

When you first meet your therapist there is usually a contract, which entails how frequent you will meet, the cost of the sessions, how cancellations are dealt with etc. It is within this framework that all the emotions are evoked. As a therapist I have experienced on so many occasions where an individual gets frustrated because they have to pay for a missed session or a cancellation that was made outside of the agreed cancellation period. I have also experienced people being extremely grateful for the opportunity to tell their experiences and have them validated.