The Therapeutic Process

Getting to know and understand someone well, generally takes a considerable amount of time. For this reason, psychotherapy is often considered an open-ended process, in which there are no definitive time frames; both client and counsellor collaboratively agreeing to what is needed and for how long. Generally, the more complex a client’s difficulties, the longer the treatment timeframe tends to be. This form of treatment is typically indicated when a brief treatment such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has not provided the expected outcomes.

Psychotherapy usually involves ongoing and regular sessions, typically once weekly (although some clients may require more than one session per week), that last fifty minutes. Whilst it may seem like a lengthy process, this time is necessary if one is to fully understand their current difficulties in the context of past experiences and make meaning of them. Importantly, and key to the process, is the relationship that emerges between the therapist and the client, in the context of a safe, containing and consistent therapeutic setting. This relationship is designed to promote and explore the powerful internal dynamics that affect who you are as a person, and how you relate to others and the world around you.