PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
Understanding the present. Exploring the past.
There are many different types of therapy, and I appreciate that the terminology can sometimes be confusing.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy offers an opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and experiences, and to consider how they may be connected.
It is a process of developing a greater understanding of yourself, the difficulties you may be experiencing and the things that have shaped you.
UNDERSTANDING THE APPROACH
Sometimes, the things we experience today have much earlier beginnings.
Although the difficulties that bring us to therapy are often affecting our lives in the present, I believe that their roots may lie in our past, sometimes as far back as early childhood.
Our early relationships, experiences and the ways we learnt to respond to the world around us can continue to influence how we think, feel and behave as adults.
We may find ourselves repeating certain patterns in relationships, reacting to situations in ways we don't fully understand, or experiencing feelings that seem difficult to explain.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy allows us to explore these experiences together, including the thoughts and feelings we may not be consciously aware of.
The aim isn't to place blame on the past, but to begin understanding how our experiences may be influencing the present.
REASONS FOR SEEKING SUPPORT
You don't need to have all the answers before you begin.
People consider therapy for all sorts of reasons.
You may be experiencing anxiety, depression or difficulties in your relationships. Perhaps you've suffered a bereavement, experienced trauma or are struggling with something at work.
Sometimes there isn't one particular problem. You may simply feel unhappy, unsettled or that certain things in your life aren't quite as you'd like them to be.
You don't necessarily need to know why you feel the way you do before coming to therapy.
Part of our work together can be exploring those feelings and trying to understand where they might come from.
Emotional wellbeing
Anxiety, depression, stress, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, loneliness, anger and difficulties managing emotions.
Trauma and difficult experiences
Trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, abuse, sexual abuse, discrimination, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.
Relationships and life experiences
Family difficulties, relationship issues, infertility, bereavement, loss, grief, sexual concerns and questions around identity.
Work and everyday difficulties
Burnout, work-related stress, addiction, sex addiction, eating disorders, hoarding, obsessive compulsive disorder and other difficulties that may affect everyday life.
These are just some of the difficulties I work with. If what you're experiencing isn't mentioned here, please feel free to get in touch.
WORKING TOGETHER
A space where you can speak openly.
One of the most important aspects of psychotherapy is the relationship between therapist and client.
I offer a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment in which we can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences together.
There may be things you've never spoken about before, or feelings you've found difficult to put into words.
There may also be times when you're unsure what to talk about, or when the conversation takes us somewhere you weren't expecting.
All of this can be part of the therapeutic process.
I don't believe that my role is to tell you what to do or provide ready-made answers. Instead, I see therapy as a collaborative process in which we work towards a deeper understanding of your experiences.
The relationship we develop can itself become an important part of that understanding.
THE PROCESS
What can you expect from our sessions?
Psychotherapy is different for everyone, and there isn't a particular way that you should approach it.
Some people arrive with something specific they want to talk about. Others may find it difficult to know where to begin.
During our sessions, you're free to talk about whatever comes to mind. This might include current difficulties, past experiences, relationships, memories, thoughts or feelings.
As we work together, we may begin to recognise connections or patterns that haven't previously been apparent.
Sometimes the work can feel challenging, particularly when we're exploring difficult experiences or emotions. At other times, it may provide a sense of relief simply to have somewhere you can talk openly.
There is no expectation that you should make progress in a particular way or within a particular timeframe.
FINDING THE RIGHT APPROACH
Therapy that works for you.
I offer both open-ended and time-limited psychotherapy, depending on your circumstances and what we agree might be most appropriate.
Open-ended psychotherapy
Open-ended therapy allows us to work together without setting a particular end date.
This can provide the opportunity to explore experiences, feelings and relationships in greater depth, and to consider difficulties that may have developed over many years.
Time-limited psychotherapy
For some people, a shorter period of therapy may be more appropriate.
Time-limited psychotherapy usually involves around twelve sessions, with our work focused on a particular difficulty or area of concern.
We can discuss these options during our initial consultation and consider what might be most helpful for you.
WHERE WE CAN MEET
A setting that feels comfortable for you.
I offer face-to-face psychotherapy from consulting rooms in Marylebone, central London, and Esher, Surrey.
I also offer online and telephone sessions for clients who prefer to work remotely, or for whom attending in person may not be practical.
Sessions usually take place weekly, although we may agree to meet more frequently depending on your circumstances.
Whichever arrangement we choose, the intention remains the same: to provide a confidential and consistent space in which we can work together.
BEGINNING THERAPY
We can start with a conversation.
I appreciate that deciding to begin psychotherapy isn't always straightforward.
You may have questions about how it works, whether it's appropriate for you or what you might expect from the process.
I offer a free introductory telephone call lasting around ten minutes, with no obligation to take things further.
It's an opportunity for us to talk briefly about what has brought you to therapy and whether we feel we could work together.
If we decide to proceed, the next step would be an initial consultation lasting up to 90 minutes, where we can explore your circumstances and history in more detail.
Or email stephen@thepsychotherapistlondon.com
stephen@thepsychotherapistlondon.com
© Stephen Slatter 2026