Who is psychotherapy for?

The benefits of psychotherapy are not confined to any particular type of person or problem. Some of the typical problems for which psychotherapy might be recommended include:

• A life-crisis or previous trauma.
• Relationship difficulties, marriage problems, sexual difficulties.
• Mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, anger management and self-harm.
• Personal development - finding a better understanding of yourself and your emotions, behaviour and attitudes.
• Reassessing your life and work situation, redundancy.
• Problems with addictive behaviour.
• Concerns about reproductive choice, terminations, miscarriage, or interventions for infertility.
• Pregnancy and post-natal issues.
• Reproductive ageing, menopause and the 'empty nest' experience.
• Bereavement.
• Spiritual issues.
• Personal therapy during counselling or psychotherapy training.

In summary, psychotherapy can be a highly effective form of therapy for many people. As infants and young children, human beings need to grow and develop in the context of a primary one-to-one parental relationship. It is within this primary relationship that fundamental patterns of mind (feeling, thinking and relating) are laid down. We learn both helpful and unhelpful ways of relating to ourselves and the world. In a one-to-one relationship with a psychotherapist, these unconscious ways of relating become available for conscious understanding. Insights and new learning create opportunities for personal change and development.