Essentially it could be argued that Counselling tends to focus on more specific issues, such as relationship difficulties, stress, or a recent life event. It’s often shorter-term and more solution-focused whereas Psychotherapy generally goes deeper, exploring underlying patterns, past experiences (often from childhood), and the root causes of emotional difficulties. It’s often longer-term and open-ended.

Psychodynamic therapy helps clients understand how their past experiences and unconscious patterns influence their current feelings and relationships. It’s all about getting to the root of the problem to create long-lasting change. Psychodynamic therapy often uses the relationship between therapist and client to offer further insight into unconscious patterns and communications.

In counselling, psychodynamic principles help clients explore how past experiences and unconscious patterns may be influencing their current challenges, often with a focus on present-day coping and short-term support. In psychotherapy, the work tends to go deeper and longer-term, aiming to uncover and understand the roots of emotional difficulties to bring about lasting psychological change and self-awareness.

In our first meeting, you’ll have the space to talk about what’s bringing you to therapy. I may ask some questions to get a sense of your experiences and what kind of support you’re looking for, but you’re always welcome to share only what feels right for you.

You can also use this time to ask me any questions about how I work and what the process might involve. The consultation is a chance for us both to see if we feel comfortable working together. There’s no charge for this session, and no pressure to continue if it doesn’t feel like the right fit.

In our regular sessions, you’ll be encouraged to bring whatever feels most present or important for you—whether that’s a current emotion, a recent event, a relationship dynamic, or even a dream that has stayed with you. I’ll listen carefully and may ask questions or offer observations to help us explore things more deeply. I will encourage you to use the space to express yourself freely, working through repressions and self censorship.

As we build a clearer picture of your inner world—looking at patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours—we begin to understand how these may be shaping your experiences. This process can lead to emotional shifts and open up new ways of relating to yourself and others. Sometimes, the very patterns that cause difficulty in your life may subtly show up in our work together, offering a unique opportunity to explore and work through them in a safe, respectful space.