Who might find psychoanalytic psychotherapy helpful?

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is particularly valuable for those people who feel uncomfortable within themselves. They may suffer from low self-esteem or a lack of confidence, perhaps from a difficult childhood. They may be aware of unsuccessful patterns of behaviour yet continue to repeat them, seeming unable to break the pattern.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy can also be helpful for specific feelings such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, loneliness and relational problems.

Depression and anxiety

Again, we all suffer from depression at some time, but when depression pervades everything, then we need help. The important thing is to take that initial step.

Anxiety, too, is a part of life, but when it is a crippling anxiety, help should be sought.

Relationships and loneliness

Problems with relationships are natural; repeated problems with relationships are not. We may cling to a damaging relationship or go from one relationship to another, with no time to grieve, because it is better than being on our own.

Loneliness can include feelings of desolation, abandonment and loss, which can be looked at if one can muster the courage and perhaps move beyond the shame which often accompanies loneliness.

Eating disorders and bereavement

Eating disorders — bulimia and anorexia nervosa — will benefit from psychotherapy too, exploring the deep feelings behind the distress.

Grief for a specific loss may trigger other losses which we thought we had dealt with, or which were not dealt with at the time for whatever reason.

Other reasons for having therapy

Some people come to psychotherapy because of vague, more diffuse but very real distress, which may have been around for years. Others come because they wish to know themselves better.

Whatever the initial reason for seeking help, psychotherapy is an interesting but challenging path to take to increasing self-knowledge and enlightenment.

For further information or to arrange an appointment, please call the East Dulwich practice on (020) 8516 1173.