The Methods
Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychothreapy
Why and when should I seek help?
Until a few decades ago, seeing a psychotherapist was still a taboo. Today, we increasingly recognize that anyone can face psychological difficulties at some point — and may want change, support, and a richer quality of life.
People often ask when it is “the right time” to seek help. The reasons can be many, and you do not need to be in a dramatic crisis for a consultation to be meaningful. Many people function well at work or in their personal life, and yet experience inner tension, dissatisfaction, or persistent difficulties. Sometimes, even simple curiosity about one’s own mind can be a valid reason to seek professional support.
Most common reasons for a consultation
- Personal difficulties: anxiety, insecurity, low mood, inner tension, or a sense that “something is not right”
- Difficult life periods: prolonged illness, bereavement, separation, professional or personal failure
- Relationship difficulties: conflicts in intimate relationships, family, friendships, or work; feelings of loneliness or isolation
- Physical symptoms without a clear medical cause
Will psychotherapy help me?
A large body of research shows that psychotherapy can be an effective way to work through difficulties and support personal development. It is important to understand that there are no quick and easy solutions — progress depends greatly on the quality of the relationship and collaboration between patient and therapist.
The aim of psychotherapy is usually not only temporary relief, but deeper and more lasting change in quality of life. Many positive effects continue to develop even after therapy ends.
Because every therapeutic process is strictly individual, the best way to understand whether it is suitable for you is to meet with a specialist. Whatever the issue is, it can be understood best in the context of your personal life situation.
Who should I consult?
A psychotherapist is a specialist — usually psychologist or psychiatrist — who has completed specialized long-term training in different therapeutic approaches (individual, group, family therapy, etc.). To ensure patient safety, a therapist is typically a member (or candidate member) of professional organizations with strict ethical standards.
What should I expect from the initial consultations?
The first consultations are usually between two and four sessions. Their purpose is to assess the situation and propose the most appropriate therapeutic options.
During these meetings, therapist and patient begin to build an initial understanding of the existing difficulties and discuss possible directions for work.
It is important to know that an initial consultation does not commit you to long-term therapy — you can receive a professional opinion without continuing with regular sessions.
A brief introduction into the methods I use
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is an intensive form of psychotherapy based on the idea that factors outside our awareness can have a deep influence on our behavior. These factors — beliefs about ourselves and others, unconscious wishes and fantasies — are often connected with the difficulties that lead people to seek help.
Because these factors are unconscious, advice from friends or family, self-help books, or even strong personal efforts to change do not always bring sufficient relief.
Psychoanalysis is typically for people whose life is generally stable — those who have achieved a degree of success at work and in relationships, but who still find that greater life satisfaction or relief from painful symptoms remains difficult to reach. Examples of such symptoms include depression, anxiety, sexual difficulties, or physical complaints without a medical explanation.
What psychoanalysis usually involves
- Sessions typically take place between three and five times per week
- Patients are encouraged to lie on the analytic couch
- Frequency and the use of the couch support deeper exploration of inner life — without censorship and without adapting to social expectations
Common themes in sessions
- dreams, fantasies, memories
- experiences in relationships and work
- reactions and feelings toward the analyst
- repeating patterns of behavior, thinking, and feeling
Through exploring these themes and recurring patterns, the analyst formulates and shares hypotheses about unconscious motivations that may underlie the current difficulties. Over time, through repeated experience and discussion of such patterns, the shared understanding of the patient’s difficulties deepens.
Psychoanalysis can be understood as a close partnership in which the patient recognizes the roots of difficulties not only intellectually, but also emotionally. From the very beginning, patient and analyst work to build a safe and trusting relationship. This enables the patient to experience aspects of the inner world that may have remained hidden because they were painful, disturbing, or associated with guilt.
As a result, the patient may begin to feel greater awareness and control over life, which can open wider choices in professional life and relationships, and support a more stable and positive sense of self.
A note on commitment and alternatives
The decision to begin psychoanalysis is not taken lightly, because it requires a significant time commitment. There are different options for addressing emotional problems. Some, such as medication, may have a relatively quick effect on symptoms such as sadness, anger, anxiety, reduced concentration, or sleep problems, but may not address the deeper causes behind these states. Many people who have tried medication without success turn to psychoanalysis as an alternative.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on the same principles as psychoanalysis, but differs in two main ways:
- It is conducted usually once or twice per week
- The patient sits face-to-face with the therapist
- Beyond the differences in frequency and setting, the two approaches also differ in their focus and therapeutic aims. Psychoanalysis is usually a more intensive and longer-term process, oriented toward an in-depth exploration of one’s inner world and enduring life patterns, while psychodynamic psychotherapy is more clearly structured around specific difficulties and goals, likewise aiming at meaningful and lasting change.
The choice between psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy is made after a careful evaluation during the initial consultations, considering the nature of the difficulties, life situation, and other individual factors.
How much do psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy cost?
The fee for sessions is agreed upon individually between the analyst and the patient. It should be sufficiently accessible so as not to significantly restrict the rest of the patient’s life, while also reflecting the seriousness and long-term commitment of the therapeutic process.