Psychodynamic therapy / psychoanalysis

Psychodynamic therapy explores how your history and relationships appear in present difficulties. You talk about what's on your mind, and the therapist works with you to examine recurring conflicts or ways of relating. It is used for emotional and relationship difficulties, among other reasons for seeking care.

Sessions can include silence and questions without immediate answers. That may frustrate you if you expected specific instructions for this week's problem. Finding an explanation for your experience doesn't necessarily tell you what to do differently afterward.

By questionnaire

Regular meetings usually give you space to bring the matters troubling you. Feelings about the therapist and what happens between you may also become part of the conversation. Some treatments are brief; others extend over many months. Frequency and duration need discussing at the outset.

Revisiting painful relationships can be unsettling, and progress may be hard to identify. Even in an open-ended process, you need to be able to ask what you're working on and review whether the time and money involved still make sense.

Look for a qualified mental health professional trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Ask your mental health service about its options or contact a private practice. Clarify frequency, fees, and how the length of treatment will be reviewed.

A long course can be difficult to afford or fit into your life. Difficulty connecting with the therapist shouldn't prevent you from discussing that problem or seeking another opinion. You don't have to accept every interpretation simply because it comes from the person treating you.