Online Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

How Does Online Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Work?

Online psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a talking therapy where you are encouraged to speak openly and freely about what’s on your mind. This allows for an exploration of unconscious thoughts, beliefs and memories which help reveal unconscious conflicts and experiences early in life, which may have led to current difficulties. 

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy uses free association, dream analysis and exploration of transference. This includes exploring current relationship dynamics which may include thoughts and feelings towards the therapist. This approach also includes analysing resistances and defences which may be helpful ways of coping, but may also be contributing to current difficulties. It is also a space to work through any difficult feelings.

Exploring personal difficulties can sometimes feel challenging as complex emotions and thoughts may arise. It can sometimes feel things are getting worse before they get better.

You may sometimes be asked questions or offered interpretations during a session. This type of therapy seeks to create the space for reflection and gain greater understanding of individual difficulties, internal conflicts and increase self-understanding and freedom.

The Online Psychotherapy Setting:

Unlike the in-person therapy setting, the responsibility for creating a therapeutic space which is safe and confidential is shared with you when you are having any form of psychotherapy remotely. It requires being in a different mental space. We can often be unaware of our daily normal habits with screens, they can often be hard to break if we are used to browsing online or watching tv whilst chatting.

Please read through the advice so that you can feel better prepared. Here are some helpful and important tips for transitioning to working remotely:

1. Privacy is crucial. To ensure a safe and confidential space find a private space where you can feel free to speak, free from anyone listening or interruptions in your session. This includes telling others that you are unavailable during your session time. You may wish to use headphones for privacy.
2. Turn off all devices other than the one you are using for the video call. Join from a tablet or PC please do not join from a phone. Turn off notifications. There is a 'do not disturb' option on most computers and smart phones that can be enabled to assist with this; turn off the sound alerts. We will be using Zoom for online therapy.
3. Please ensure you have downloaded  Zoom and have familiarised yourself with it. Ensure you have only your first name showing. Switch off ‘self view’ once you are all set up, to help you focus. Switch to ‘gallery view’ for couple and group therapy.
4. Location matters. When possible, try and meet from the same location each time.
5. Try to keep the setting as professional as possible. If you do need to use your bedroom, bring a chair to sit on rather than using your bed. Dress as you usually would for your session. Find somewhere to prop up your tablet, iPad or computer, so that you don't have to hold on to it or rest it in your lap.
6. Arrange yourself as you would if you were meeting in person in the office. Sit in a comfortable chair, rather than reclining or lying down on furniture.
7. Sound & lighting. Make sure you can be heard and seen clearly.
8. Keep a box of tissues nearby. Pour a glass of water if you want, but don't eat or snack during your session.
9. Transitions are important. Leave yourself a 10–15-minute buffer before your session to help clear your head, and be mentally prepared. Apply a similar buffer after the session to process and absorb. It may be helpful to take a walk outside by yourself before or after sessions or some gentle stretching indoors can be useful. This before and after buffer time is in fact an important part of your session.