About psychodynamic therapy

 

I offer psychodynamic psychotherapy.  This kind of therapy recognises that our symptoms and struggles have deep, underlying causes, which operate outside of our awareness, in ways that we are not conscious of.  They bring about symptoms and destructive patterns, and over the years have a profound impact on our life story.  Because these causes are unconscious, they can be highly resistant to change, undermining our best efforts at wellbeing and growth.

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Contact me on vaughan.dutton@stx.oxon.org if you would like to discuss attending sessions, or to find out more about psychodynamic psychotherapy.

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In this video​ Prof. Shedler of UCSF gives an overview of 7 key principles of psychodynamic psychotherapy.  It is useful for anyone wanting to find out more about this approach. 

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Therapy is a courageous voyage of discovery, in alliance with the therapist, into these deep causes.  The journey toward healing will take us through forgotten loves and losses, painful moments of hurt, shame and fear, and secret fantasies, hopes and dreams.  We will re-encounter significant events and people from your past, considering how they continue to impact your life.  Guided by our commitment to healing, we will slowly but consistently move toward a place free from the bonds of painful and self defeating past experiences.

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Is it the right therapy for you?

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If you have a genuine interest in relieving symptoms through gaining deep self-knowledge, have the capacity for self-reflection, and are naturally curious about your internal life, relationships and society, then my approach should work well for you. 

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Does psychodynamic therapy work?

In recent years, there have been a great variety of therapies on offer to the public. Besides being bewildering, many of these therapies may not work or even be destructive to clients.  I offer some guidelines to help you answer these questions for yourself and find a good therapist.

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1.  Is a theraeutic approach evidence based?

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In recent years, there has been an increased requirement for serious therapies to offer evidence that they actually work.  The field of Evidence Based Research and Evidence Based Practice has developed to address this need.  Psychodynamic psychotherapy has built up an evidence base through these methods, and continues to monitor and evaluate its practices according to the requirements of evidence based practice. 

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I have provided a few resources with respect EBP and psychodynamic therapy:

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This video from the Berlin Analytic discusses the evidence that psychodynamic therapy works.

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This journal article from Contemporary Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

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This report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists offers an overview of the evidence for psychodynamic therapy

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2. Are you and your therapist a good match?

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Research has found that the quality of relationship between client and therapist is a major factor in whether the therapy will be a success or not.  It is important, therefore, to be mindful about which therapist you take on.  There should be a connection and an ability to 'get one another'.  While it may take a few sessions to start getting a sense of this, I offer my first session free as an opportunity to meet before taking on work together.  This will give a chance to have some idea whether we will work well together.

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This journal article discusses the importance of a good working connection with your therapist.