Therapy: What is it and how does it work?
Psychotherapy involves conversations with a therapist who is trained to help you make sense of, and try to change, things that trouble you.
It is something you take an active working part in, rather than something you are just prescribed or given, such as medication.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a therapeutic process which helps people to understand and resolve their problems by increasing awareness of the past and its influence over present behaviour and relationships.
It aims to create deep seated change in personality and emotional development.
It is not limited to people with mental health problems. Many people who experience a loss of meaning in their lives or who are seeking a greater sense of fulfilment may be helped by psychotherapy.
Sometimes people seek help for specific problems such as eating disorders or phobias. At other times it may be more general feelings of depression or anxiety, difficulties concentrating, dissatisfaction in work or relationships.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy can contribute significantly to an individual's mental and physical health, to relationships, to their sense of well-being and to their ability to manage their lives more effectively.