During your first sessions, the focus is on getting to you and building a trusting therapeutic relationship. Your psychologist will explain how therapy works, discuss privacy, confidentiality and your rights and responsibilities as a client, and create a safe, welcoming space for you to talk openly. They will ask about your current concerns, personal history, and any challenges or symptoms you’re experiencing to better understand your needs. Together, you will map the work for therapy and discuss possible approaches, session frequency, and next steps. By the end of the initial 3 sessions, you’ll have a shared plan for moving forward and time to ask any questions. It’s normal to feel nervous at first, we’re here to help you feel comfortable, supported, and heard.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a form of therapy that focuses on deepening our understanding of ourselves—our experiences, relationships, patterns of behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. It explores how past and present experiences shape the ways we think, feel, and relate to others. Rather than simply offering explanations, this approach helps people work through the underlying issues that may contribute to distress, whether these appear as everyday struggles or more serious emotional difficulties. By reflecting on these patterns over time, therapy can support greater self-awareness, emotional growth, and the possibility for meaningful and lasting change. At its core, psychoanalytic psychotherapy aims to promote mental health through a thoughtful, compassionate process that helps people develop a deeper and more fulfilling way of understanding themselves and their lives.

Psychotherapy can help people who are experiencing distress, as well as those who simply want to improve their quality of life and relationships. It may help with:

• Anxiety, depression, and mood difficulties

• Relationship problems

• Family and parenting challenges

• Loss, trauma, and adjustment to change

• Personal growth, identity, and self-understanding

• You do not need to be in crisis to benefit from psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy is not typically a form of crisis intervention and is not a substitute for emergency, hospital, or medical care in severe presentations. In times of acute crisis, immediate medical or mental health services may be more appropriate.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is usually non-prescriptive and non-directive. Rather than giving advice, the therapist works collaboratively with you to explore patterns, feelings, and experiences. Over time, this process can lead to deeper insight, emotional maturation, and meaningful changes in how you understand yourself and relate to others.

Therapy is essentially a thoughtful conversation where the therapist listens carefully and helps you explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. You may talk about what is happening in your life now, as well as important experiences from the past. Many people find themselves discussing things they may not usually talk about elsewhere because they are personal, complex, or difficult to share with others. Your therapist does not judge what is right or wrong for you, nor do they make decisions on your behalf. Instead, therapy provides a space where you can speak openly and reflect on what you truly think, feel, and want. At times, people feel confused or conflicted about themselves. A therapist may gently highlight patterns, contradictions, or feelings that arise in the conversation, helping you consider them more clearly. By keeping important thoughts and emotions in view, the therapist supports you in reaching your own understanding and making decisions that feel authentic and meaningful for you.

• A psychologist is a trained mental health professional who tries to make sense of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Psychologists use psychological therapies (often called “talking therapies”) to help people work through difficulties, develop coping strategies, and improve wellbeing. Psychologists do not prescribe medication.

• A clinical psychologist is a psychologist who has completed additional postgraduate training, such as a clinical Masters degree or PHD. They have supervised clinical training in the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions. Clinical psychologists often work with a wide range of psychological difficulties, including more complex presentations and diagnoses.

• A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry. Because they are trained in medicine, they can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication. Psychiatrists often work with people experiencing more complex or severe mental health conditions. Their training focuses primarily on diagnosis and medical treatment, including hospitalisation.

In many cases, psychologists, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists may work collaboratively to provide the most appropriate support for a person’s needs.