Catrin Thorp Jungian Analytical Psychotherapist

What is Psychotherapy?

This is a difficult question to answer as psychotherapy can mean such different things to different people.

The Journey of Psychotherapy

I would like to suggest ten words, all beginning with the letter C, which I believe describe many of the key elements of the psychotherapeutic process.

Calling

People are drawn to seeking the help of a psychotherapist for many different reasons but I would suggest that the process begins by becoming aware of an inner calling (or deep sense/gut feeling) that something needs to be responded to with the help of another.

Consulting Room

Psychotherapy takes place within the psychotherapist’s consulting room which is safe, secure and confidential, away from the distractions of everyday life. Some people might think of the consulting room as a sacred or soulful space; in other words, a place which facilitates a deep engagement with oneself.

Conversation

Psychotherapy is an ongoing conversation, or an encounter, between two people – the person seeking help (the patient) and the professionally-trained listener (the therapist). First and foremostly, the conversation is a verbal one but psychotherapy also allows for deeper ‘conversations’ to take place where words are not required.

Confidentiality

It is of the utmost importance that confidentiality is treated ethically and with the utmost care during the process of psychotherapy.

Commitment

Psychotherapy is not a quick process and so a commitment is made by both the patient and the psychotherapist to take the time necessary for the process to unfold at its own pace, which can be a number of years.

Curiosity

Psychotherapy requires an open, curious mind; to wonder what meaning might lie behind uncomfortable symptoms and difficult life experiences, to question deeply held beliefs and opinions, and to think about established patterns of behaving and relating. The word curiosity also speaks to the sense of adventure that can found in the psychotherapy process as, apart from the starting point, the rest is an adventure into the unknown.

Clinical

Psychotherapy is a form of clinical treatment. Psychotherapists must undergo rigorous training and be registered with an appropriate registering body. Psychotherapists must also be insured and supervised on a regular basis.

Conscious (and Unconscious)

Psychotherapy aims to engage with the conscious and unconscious aspects of ourselves. In other words, what we are aware of and can speak/think about (conscious) as well what might lie behind and beneath. One of the goals of psychotherapy is to increase our conscious awareness of the many layers that exist within us so that we feel more able to live authentically.

Courage

Psychotherapy is an uncontrollable and unknowable process. To be open to this requires courage especially when working with the deeper layers of the psyche.

Cure

In our current society, the idea of a cure can often be thought of as the complete removal of symptoms; in other words, someone who has been cured becomes completely free of pain. Psychotherapy cannot offer such guarantees. However, the Middle English root of the word ‘cure’ is the care and healing of souls. From this perspective, psychotherapy is a care-ful process which can certainly lead to a sense of inner healing where past experiences and painful feelings can be better integrated into the personality as a whole, leading to a more authentic sense of Self.

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Why Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy can be a helpful way to respond to a wide range of concerns:
Managing challenging life events such losing a job, bereavement, fertility issues, becoming ill, a relationship breakdown.
Dealing with more established issues – depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, problems with eating, addiction, obsessive behaviours and thoughts.

Feeling that something is wrong but not really knowing why or what; perhaps feeling ‘out of balance’ or disconnected from oneself even when, outwardly, life seems to be progressing well (house, job, family etc).

Therapy Sessions

Starting Psychotherapy

By reading this website it could be said that the journey of psychotherapy has already begun. To move onto the next stage, please contact me and we can discuss arranging an initial consultation.
FAQs

“It all depends on how we look at things,
and not how they are in themselves.”
C.G. Jung

Frequently Asked Questions

Some common questions are answered below.
If your question isn’t amongst them, please do get in touch.

I am interested. What should I do next?

Please contact me to arrange an initial consultation.

What happens in the initial consultation?
The first meeting is an opportunity for me to begin to hear about why you think psychotherapy might be suitable for you. It is also about you meeting me and seeing whether I might be someone you feel comfortable working with. An agreement to commence working together might emerge from our first meeting; sometimes it can take a little longer to reach a decision.
How long is each session?

The initial consultation can last up to 1hr 15 minutes. After that, each session lasts 50 minutes and will take place at the same time each week.

Is it one session per week?
Sessions might begin at a frequency of one per week but it is common to meet more frequently if that is found to be helpful. I regularly see patients twice and three times each week.
How much does it cost?

I have a standard fee which I review annually. Please contact me for more details.

I am happy to hear from anyone who is very keen to engage in long-term psychotherapy, even those with financial constraints.

How is ‘Psychotherapy’ different to ‘Counselling’?

Very broadly speaking, counselling tends to focus on issues which are at the forefront of your mind without attempting to understand too fully where those issues may have come from, and will usually be short-term work. Psychotherapy is an open-ended process which offers you the opportunity to explore yourself in more depth; to take your time so that you are able to notice whether there are patterns within you that may have been repeating throughout your life, from your childhood onwards, without you really knowing it. Whether you need counselling or psychotherapy is never a black-and-white issue and it is possible to move from one approach to the other depending on your circumstances.

How much therapy will I need?
This is not something that can be known for certain at the beginning of treatment. Therapy can last for six-twelve months, especially if there is a specific issue to be worked through but, equally, it can continue for a number of years.
Is it confidential?
Yes. It is of utmost importance that the work adheres to clear boundaries and ethical guidelines.
I have had some counselling/therapy before. Does that matter?
Not at all. It will be interesting to hear of any previous experiences you have had and to think about how they have impacted on your decision to explore further therapy.
Am I too old to start??!
Absolutely not! People often find themselves in therapy at whatever time is ‘right’ for them. It is never too late to explore your life and to think about ways of living in a fuller and more satisfying way.
‘Analysis’ sounds a bit scary. Will I be pulled apart?!? 
A common misunderstanding of ‘analysis’ is that the therapist’s role is to scrutinise the patient to such an extent that the patient feels totally demoralised. This is absolutely not the intention of Analytical Psychotherapy. Whilst being in therapy can be challenging, it might be more helpful to think of analysis as putting together the pieces of a jigsaw, painting a picture or making connections between past and present, inner and outer.
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