Addiction and psychodynamic counselling
Are you able to choose when you drink, take drugs, gamble, shop? Have you stopped – or can you stop? Do you feel it is affecting your day to day life? Is it affecting your relationships? Does it impact your work? Do you think you are able to function with your addiction? Do you hide your addiction?
Mental health problems such as addiction can be difficult to overcome, and often require professional help to do so. Psychodynamic counselling is one such form of treatment that can help people with addiction to gain insight into their behaviours and make positive changes.
Psychodynamic counselling is based on the idea that people are driven by unconscious motives and desires. The aim of the therapy is to bring these issues to the surface, so they can be addressed and worked through. This can help the individual to better understand their addiction, and to identify the underlying causes of it.
The first step in psychodynamic counselling is to build a trusting relationship between the counsellor and the individual. This helps the counsellor to gain a better understanding of the individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and to identify any potential triggers for addictive behaviour.
The next step is to explore the individual’s past, as this can help to identify any unresolved issues or traumatic experiences that may have contributed to the addiction. This can lead to a better understanding of the individual’s current situation, as well as provide insight into how they can move forward.
Once the individual has gained insight into their addiction, the counsellor can help them to develop strategies for managing their addiction. This may include lifestyle changes, such as reducing stress and engaging in healthier activities. The counsellor can also help the individual to develop coping skills, so that they can better manage triggers and cravings.
Finally, the counsellor can help the individual to develop a positive outlook on life, and to set achievable goals for their recovery. This can help to provide the individual with motivation and direction, which can be crucial for long-term recovery.
Ultimately, psychodynamic counselling can be a powerful tool for helping people with addiction to gain insight into their behaviour, and to make positive changes. It can also help to provide the support and guidance needed to maintain recovery in the long-term.
Leanne @MazeCounselling
October 2023
