Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychodynamic counselling draw on the theories and practices of psychoanalysis. Its aim is to help individuals talk about their difficulties and help them make sense of these through greater understanding of themselves, their emotions, and their relationships.

The therapy involves exploring how experiences and feelings in the past, especially in childhood and adolescence, have formed us, and continue to have influence over our feelings and our relationships in our current life and may cause us pain.

Individual Psychotherapy

As a psychodynamic psychotherapist I work with the “here and now’ emotions of the therapy relationship as it unfolds enabling you to make meaningful links to aspects of past relationships that cause you to feel stuck in painful patterns of behaviour. Symptoms will often fade away as the tension driving them is resolved. Patterns of conflict with others, blocks to personal growth or fulfilment may be tackled in the same way. In the same way as past and present problems may be repeated in current relationships, they may tend to be seen in the relationship with your therapist. In the safety of the professional relationship, these patterns can be made clear and dealt with. This is one of the best ways to gain insight into feelings and conflicts, and into how past events may affect your present feelings, actions, and the way you relate to others.

Individual Therapy can help with the following conditions:

  • Personality disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Despression
  • Stress & burnout
  • PTSD

Couple Therapy

Couple therapy offers the opportunity to explore aspects of relationships with a partner that might be causing difficulties, with the aim of opening up communication and facilitating new ways of relating. The relationship may be in crisis, or couples may want to work on more chronic difficulties or want to deepen their existing relationship. I sometimes work with a colleague, both together and separately to help achieve the best outcome for the couples I work with.

Additional Services Offered

  • Clinical supervision for therapists
  • Staff consultations and reflective practice groups

Covid, Long Covid and Doctors in Distress

During the pandemic, we missed out on the life we used to live; one of the biggest factors being connection. These days going to the shop can cause fear, missing our friends and family can increase sadness and trying to do school or job work at home can feel overwhelming and frustrating. When you are in your home struggling with negative feelings, it can feel as if you are alone. Group therapy can help you process negative feelings through support and connection.

During the Covid pandemic I have been offering on-line support groups, therapy groups and leadership groups for doctors and other health care professionals who have been seriously affected by the covid pandemic. Some staff have had Covid 19, and some are subsequently experiencing long term symptoms of Long Covid*. Much of my work has been with the charity Doctors in Distress and NHS Practitioner Health.
https://doctors-in-distress.org.uk
https://practitionerhealth.nhs.uk

*Long-Covid is an illness that can last many months after someone has Covid-19. People may have a mixture of symptoms that vary day to day. Most people with Long-Covid can have fatigue, “brain fog”, feel breathless or have low mood and/or anxiety. The number of patients with Long-Covid is around 10% of those discharged from hospital.

Contact

For consultations in my private practice in Forres, Moray, or to arrange a consultation to discuss online individual or group therapy from anywhere in the UK please call me on 07917 194885 or send an email