Understanding How Psychodynamic Counselling Works

A guide to choosing your therapist: What to expect in Psychodynamic Counselling

Starting counselling can feel like a big step, and it’s natural to want to know what to expect before you begin. Psychodynamic counselling is a gentle, thoughtful process that helps you understand the deeper—often unconscious—reasons behind your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.

Rather than offering quick fixes, this approach gives you the space to explore your past and present experiences at your own pace. Many people find it helpful for working through challenges such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, eating difficulties, low self-esteem, and the stress of difficult life events.

What You Can Expect in Sessions

Free Expression
You’ll be encouraged to speak freely about whatever is on your mind, even if it seems small or unrelated. Often, these unfiltered thoughts help reveal important patterns and themes that can lead to new insights.

Exploring the Past
Together, we may look at your early experiences and significant life events. This can feel emotional at times, but many people describe a sense of relief as they begin to connect the dots between their past and present.

Understanding Relationships
Relationships often shape how we see ourselves and the world. By reflecting on your connections—past and present—you may start to notice how these patterns influence the way you relate to others today.

The Emotional Journey

Building Trust
It’s common to feel uncertain or vulnerable at first. Over time, as we build a trusting relationship, many people find they can share more openly and honestly.

Experiencing and Processing Emotions
Exploring sensitive areas can sometimes bring up strong feelings. While this can feel challenging, it often leads to meaningful breakthroughs and a deeper understanding of yourself.

Discovering the Unconscious
You may become aware of thoughts or feelings you hadn’t recognised before. Though this can be surprising, it’s an important part of making sense of your inner world.

Noticing Change
As you gain clarity, you may start to notice gradual shifts in how you feel about yourself, how you cope with challenges, and how you relate to others.

The Therapeutic Relationship

A Safe and Supportive Space
My role is to provide a safe, non-judgemental environment where you can explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism. We’ll work together to understand your experiences in a way that feels supportive and respectful.

Making Sense of Patterns
Sometimes, I may gently highlight links between your present struggles and past experiences, helping you make sense of recurring patterns in your life.

Empathy and Understanding
Throughout our work, I aim to deeply understand your perspective, offering empathy and compassion as you navigate your journey.

Taking the First Step

Psychodynamic counselling can feel like a deep and, at times, challenging process—but it can also bring about lasting insight and meaningful change. Many people find the experience both healing and transformative.

If you’re curious about whether this approach could be right for you, I warmly invite you to reach out for an initial conversation. This gives you the chance to ask questions, share a little about your situation, and get a sense of whether we might work well together. If you’d like a quick overview of what psychodynamic counselling sessions involve, you can also visit my page on how psychodynamic counselling works.