Psychotherapy is a form of talking therapy designed to help you with emotional difficulties. During your sessions with a psychotherapist you can talk about what you want to change. Some people are not sure what they want to change but know something is the matter. Talking to a psychotherapist helps you identify what is troubling you and what changes you can make to feel better. 

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There are many different kinds of talking therapy and it can be difficult to know which one is best. In general there are two disciplines, psychotherapy and counselling. These are both effective yet have different approaches.

 

Psychotherapy explores your early childhood experiences and memories with the aim of making links to the here and now. This work is often referred to as depth psychology because it explores unconscious processes and can be psychoanalytic in its approach.

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Counselling is a talking therapy that looks at your current experience helping you identify what you want to change. The counsellor is trained to facilitate you in talking through what is troubling you and helps you reflect on things. Counsellors help you find your own solutions.

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The approach I use is called relational transactional analysis psychotherapy. This approach is all about the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client. The work is as deep as you need it to be, meaning, if you have significant childhood trauma, the therapy will lend itself to that. I am trained to facilitate this process, known as working in the transference relationship. Therapy in this way can be very moving, rewarding and emotionally healing. 

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Relational Transactional Analysis has its roots in the original model developed by Dr. Eric Berne in the 1960's. Central to this approach is the concept of ego-states. Berne's thinking was that we each have a Parent, Adult and Child ego-state and we can become more aware of how we are in relation to others and ourselves. This was the basis of TA and since then many psychologists, psychoanalysts and theorists have contributed it over the years making it a comprehensive model of human relating.

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Whichever kind of therapy you choose, look for a therapist with a professional qualification who belongs to a professional body. You can find my credentials here. You may be interested in becoming a psychotherapist as well as having your own therapy. Find out more here

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