Psychodynamic Therapy

Whether you are dealing with addiction, mental health struggles, or just feeling a little stuck, psychodynamic therapy can help you in ways that might surprise you. Here are some of the ways it can make a big difference in your life:

Feel truly heard and understood

Psychodynamic therapy gives you a safe space to open up and just talking to someone who listens without judgement can be an empowering experience.

Understand your thoughts and feelings

If you have ever felt confused about why you do certain things or feel a certain way, psychodynamic therapy can help you put the pieces together.

Gain control over your life

Addiction and mental health struggles can make you feel like you have lost control of your life. Psychodynamic therapy can help you take back charge by understanding why you have been behaving in certain ways.

Boost your self-esteem

As you learn more about yourself and start making positive changes, you will likely feel better about who you are and the future ahead of you.

Improve your relationships

Psychodynamic therapy can teach you how to set healthy boundaries and communicate better with loved ones. This can be very important if addiction has caused issues with your friends and family.

When many people think of addiction recovery, they picture only detox and breaking the physical dependency. But addiction is also a psychological and emotional condition, and if the root causes behind it aren’t addressed, there is a major chance of relapse.
Psychodynamic therapy goes deeper than what’s on the surface. As you work through your personal issues with your therapist, you will have the chance to heal those old wounds. This takes away their power and stops them from triggering harmful behaviour like substance abuse.

Your first psychodynamic therapy sessions are all about building trust with your therapist. We know that sharing your story can feel daunting, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like addiction and trauma. That’s why our approach focuses first on creating a space where you can talk freely.
Once you are comfortable, your sessions will start to explore how your past experiences – whether they are family conflicts, difficult relationships or traumatic early memories – are connected to your addiction. With each session, you will peel back the layers and start to resolve the underlying issues.

There are several techniques used in psychodynamic therapy that help uncover hidden emotions and unresolved issues. Here are some of the most effective techniques used in addiction recovery:

Free association in psychodynamic therapy

Free association is a simple yet powerful technique where you are encouraged to say whatever comes to your mind, without holding back. It might feel strange at first but it’s a way to let your thoughts flow naturally. By doing this, you may start to uncover things you didn’t even realise were bothering you or fuelling your addiction.

Transference in psychodynamic therapy

Transference happens when you start projecting feelings about someone from your past onto your therapist. For example, you might find yourself reacting to your therapist the same way you would to a parent or another important figure in your life. This is completely normal and can actually be really useful in therapy. By exploring these feelings, your therapist can help you understand how past relationships or unresolved emotions are still influencing you now.

Focal psychodynamic therapy

Focal psychodynamic therapy is a shorter, more focused version of traditional psychodynamic therapy. Instead of exploring every aspect of your past, you and your therapist focus on one key issue. This could be a specific relationship, a traumatic event or a recurring emotional struggle. By zeroing in on one issue, you can make progress more quickly and start applying what you have learned to your recovery.

At Oasis Runcorn, we offer both psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as part of our rehab treatment programme. While both approaches are highly effective, they take different routes to help you achieve recovery. Here is a breakdown of the key differences:

Focus on time

Psychodynamic therapy digs into your past to uncover hidden emotions while CBT focuses on your current thoughts and behaviours.

Goals

Psychodynamic therapy aims to give you deeper insight into yourself and your emotions. CBT works to change your addictive patterns and improve how you handle everyday challenges.

Approach

Psychodynamic therapy is more open-ended, exploring the unconscious mind. CBT is more structured and usually focuses on specific goals with actionable steps.

Length of treatment

Psychodynamic therapy can be a longer process as it deals with deep-rooted emotional issues. CBT may be shorter as it usually focuses on immediate problem-solving.

Both therapies have their strengths, which is why Oasis Runcorn includes them in all of our treatment programmes. The goal is to give you the best chance of recovery by leaving no stone unturned.

Ready to find the answers within yourself? Psychodynamic therapy at Oasis Runcorn is all about helping you uncover the hidden emotions that keep you stuck in addiction. It is a chance to face the past, heal old wounds and move forward with a clearer understanding of yourself. Reach out to us today, and let’s begin this journey together.

Disclaimer:

The availability of therapies may vary across UKAT centres. The specific therapies provided will be determined based on your treatment plan and the programme offered at your chosen facility. All treatments are subject to clinical assessment and programme availability at the time of admission. For further details on the therapies included in your treatment plan, please contact our admissions team.