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Psychodynamic therapy resolves internal conflicts and improves emotional states. Fill out the questionnaire on pleso.me to find the right therapist.

Psychodynamic Therapy: What It Is, Techniques, is it Right for You | Pleso Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a term that might feel a bit daunting and like you need to read a serious amount of psychology books to even begin to scratch the surface. But the psychodynamic approach is actually a lot more straightforward than its reputation suggests.

At its heart, psychodynamic therapy is built around one core idea:

Your past shapes your present, and understanding that helps you build a healthier future.

Then you’re already thinking in the world of psychodynamic psychology.

This article breaks down everything you need to know about the psychodynamic approach, psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychodynamic counselling, and how all of it connects to the classic Freud psychodynamic theory.

Where Psychodynamic Therapy Came From (A Quick, Human-Friendly History)

To understand the psychodynamic approach, you have to go back to the roots of psychoanalysis, invented by Sigmund Freud.

But here’s the part many people misunderstand:

Psychodynamic therapy ≠ Classical psychoanalysis.

They’re related, but not the same thing.

So while Freud’s psychodynamic theory created the foundation, today’s psychodynamic psychotherapy is influenced by many other modern thinkers - Melanie Klein, Winnicott, Bowlby (attachment theory superstar), Kohut (self psychology), and contemporary relational theorists.

Today’s psychodynamic approach is gentler, more collaborative, more conversational, and a LOT more practical than anything Freud imagined. 

Psychodynamic therapy helps you understand the emotional patterns, unconscious habits, and early experiences that influence your behaviour, thoughts, and relationships today.

Instead of asking, “How do I stop anxiety?”It asks, “What is happening 

 that creates anxiety in the first place?”

It’s gentle emotional archaeology, uncovering the root of your patterns so you can grow out of them.

If you’ve ever noticed yourself repeating the same relationship issues, emotional reactions, or habits, psychodynamic therapy techniques help you understand 

The Core Themes of Psychodynamic Theory 

1. The Unconscious Mind Influences Your Everyday Life

According to psychodynamic theory, many of our thoughts, fears, and impulses operate beneath the surface. Like apps running in the background, they drain emotional battery without you realising.

Maybe you avoid conflict because of old memories you’ve forgotten. Maybe you react strongly to criticism because it taps into earlier wounds. Maybe you choose partners based on early attachment patterns.

Psychodynamic therapy helps you uncover these hidden influences so you can work with them instead of being controlled by them.

2. Your Childhood Matters - But Not in a Blamey, Dramatic Way

This isn’t about blaming your parents. It’s about understanding the emotional template you learned growing up.

All of this shapes adult behaviour. And in psychodynamic counselling, you finally get space to explore how those early lessons show up today.

3. Defence Mechanisms Are Normal (We All Have Them)

Freud introduced the idea of defence mechanisms, and modern psychodynamic psychology still uses them but with much more nuance.

These aren’t flaws. They’re emotional safety strategies you learned for a reason.

Psychodynamic therapy techniques help you understand them, not to judge them, but to free you from automatic reactions that no longer serve you.

4. The Past Shows Up in the Present (A Lot More Than You Think)

One of the biggest ideas in psychodynamic theory is that old emotional patterns continue to play out in current relationships.

5. The Therapeutic Relationship Is a Mirror

This part sounds scary but promise it isn’t! 

Sometimes, the way you relate to your psychodynamic therapist reflects familiar emotional patterns.

Exploring these reactions in therapy helps you heal them.

This process is called transference, one of the most important pieces of the psychodynamic approach.

What Happens in a Psychodynamic Therapy Session?

There’s rarely homework, no worksheets, no checklists. Psychodynamic therapy is slow, thoughtful, steady work but that’s why the changes last.

Who Benefits Most from Psychodynamic Therapy?

People who often benefit the most include those who:

It’s especially great for anyone who’s introspective or curious about their inner world.

Many therapists blend the two approaches for a balanced experience.

Real-Life Examples of Psychodynamic Themes

You apologise too often, avoid conflict, and struggle to say no. In therapy, you realise this behaviour comes from growing up in a household where peace equals safety.

You love deeply but find it hard to open up. In therapy, you discover vulnerability wasn’t safe in childhood, so distance became protection.

You push yourself relentlessly. Through therapy, you uncover the belief that love was earned only through achievement so “good enough” has never felt like an option.

This is what psychodynamic psychotherapy does: It connects the dots between who you were and who you are.

Therapists today are warm, present, and responsive, not blank screens.

How Long Does Psychodynamic Therapy Take?

It’s not quick-fix therapy but it creates deeper, longer-lasting change.

Is Psychodynamic Therapy Effective? (Short Answer: Yes.)

Modern research supports the psychodynamic approach, showing it is:

Because it focuses on the origins of distress, not just the symptoms, people often continue to grow even after sessions stop.

At its core, psychodynamic therapy helps you understand the “why” behind your thoughts, habits, feelings, and relationships. It gives you a clear map of your inner world, and that clarity leads to freedom.

Not being judged. Not being analysed like a specimen. Not being told who you are. Instead, you finally get the chance to truly 

If you’re craving self-awareness, long-term change, or emotional understanding, the psychodynamic approach might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Pleso Therapy: Modern Psychodynamic Support from Accredited UK Therapists

Psychodynamic therapy

Person-centred therapy fosters growth by resolving shame and resentment. Create an individual treatment program with a therapist on pleso.me.

Person-Centred Therapy: What It Is, What Does PST Focus On | Pleso Therapy

Person-centred therapy is a way of working that many people find useful because it’s built on one core belief:

You are not a problem to be fixed - you are a person to be understood.

Unlike approaches that analyse, instruct, diagnose, or direct, person-centred therapy (also called 

) is grounded in the idea that you are the expert on your own internal experience, even if you’ve lost touch with it for a while.

If you’re someone who wants therapy that feels warm, accepting, human, and non-judgemental  or if you are someone who needs space to explore who you really are,  person-centred therapy may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Let’s explore what it really is, where it came from, how it works, why it matters, and how to tell whether it’s right for you.

Where Person-Centred Therapy Comes From and Why That Origin Matters

Person-centred therapy began with Carl Rogers, an American psychologist who was part of the humanistic movement in the mid-20th century. Before Rogers, therapy was largely shaped by more authoritarian models:

Rogers found this deeply limiting. He believed that when people are treated as objects to be assessed, measured, or fixed, they naturally shut down. They hide parts of themselves. They become defensive.

Instead, he proposed something radical: People excel when they feel understood, accepted, and free from judgement.

This idea led him to develop the client-centred approach, grounded in the humanistic theory of personality, which views each person as capable of growth, self-direction, and emotional healing when placed in the right environment.

This mattered because it shifted the therapist’s role dramatically. Instead of being the expert who diagnoses, the therapist becomes a facilitator of growth, someone who creates emotional conditions where the client becomes more self-aware, more self-accepting, and more able to make their own changes.

In today’s therapeutic space, this shift remains foundational.

What Does Person-Centred Theory Focus On?

Rogers believed every person has a natural internal drive to grow, heal, and become more fully themselves. This is not wishful thinking; it is the same force that drives plants towards sunlight and humans towards meaning and authenticity.

Your self-image, how you see yourself can become distorted by criticism, trauma, rejection, or conditions of worth (feeling you must earn love or acceptance). Person-centred therapy helps soften and repair this.

Beneath all the noise of self-doubt and self-judgement is your real, intuitive self the part of you that simply knows what feels right or wrong. PCT helps you reconnect with that.

This is the heart of the approach. The relationship 

 the therapy not a technique layered on top of it. A strong therapeutic relationship is what allows the actualising to happen. 

The Core Conditions: The Foundation of Person-Centred Work

The core conditions are the bedrock of person-centred therapy. Rogers believed that if a therapist offers these, growth becomes almost inevitable.

Real empathy - not pity or “poor you,” but stepping inside your world and seeing life through your eyes. A person-centred counsellor doesn’t assume, judge, or analyse; they try to understand your emotional reality.

This is acceptance without conditions. No “I’ll accept you if…” No “You’re good as long as…” You are welcomed as you are, your anger, confusion, fear, numbness, guilt, uncertainty, all of it.

This alone can be life-changing for people who grew up in harsh, critical, or emotionally unpredictable homes.

The therapist is real. Not a distant expert. Not a blank screen. Not a perfectly neutral professional. But a genuine human being.

This honesty helps the client feel safe enough to be genuine too.

When the core conditions come together, you get something rare: a space where you don’t have to perform, impress, or suppress anything.

What Happens in a Person-Centred Therapy Session?

If you’re used to structured therapies like CBT, person-centred therapy can feel refreshing, or sometimes strange because it works differently.

There are no worksheets, no homework, no tests, no checklists, and no pressure to talk about anything before you're ready.

This is why person-centred therapy is sometimes described as 

“the therapy where you get to hear yourself.”

Person-centred therapy uses techniques like:

These may not look like techniques from the outside, but they are powerful at helping clients discover the parts of themselves that have been suppressed, ignored, or criticised for years.

Why Person-Centred Therapy Might Be Right for You

You may connect deeply with this approach if you:

Person-centred therapy is about giving you something many people never received:a relationship where your feelings matter, your voice is valued, and your inner experience is taken seriously.

Who Might Find Person-Centred Therapy Challenging?

This doesn’t mean the person-centred approach is inferior, it simply means different people need different forms of support.

Many modern therapists blend person-centred counselling theory with other approaches, creating an integrative or pluralistic style that offers both safety and structure.

In the therapeutic world, where techniques and tools evolve constantly, Rogers’ message is still important - therapy is not primarily about methods, it’s about relationship.

Every approach has limits. Rogers openly acknowledged that PCT:

However, many people who feel overwhelmed, criticised, or pressured by other therapies find PCT to be helpful. 

How to Know If Person-Centred Therapy Is Right for You

If you’re drawn to the idea of understanding yourself, rather than being told who you are, person-centred therapy is likely to be a good fit. 

Why Pleso Therapy Might Be the Right Place to Begin

If you’re considering person-centred therapy and want a space that feels safe, warm, and supportive, Pleso Therapy is designed with exactly that in mind. Our team of UK-accredited therapists are trained in the principles of the client-centred approach. Every therapist at Pleso Therapist works with a humanistic, person-centred mindset: you’re not judged, analysed, or pushed toward someone else’s idea of who you “should” be. Instead, we focus on building a strong therapeutic relationship where you can explore your emotions and move forward at your own pace.

 with Pleso Therapy offers a modern, compassionate environment grounded in evidence-based person-centred counselling theory.

Person-Centred Therapy

Gestalt therapy focuses on closing unfinished situations and emotions. Match with a therapist on pleso.me to create your individual program.

Gestalt Therapy: What It Is, Techniques, is it Right for You | Pleso Therapy

If you’ve ever looked at clouds and suddenly seen a dog, a dragon, or your favourite celebrity, you already get the basic idea of Gestalt. 

 (a German word that doesn’t have a direct translation but can be interrupted as “shape” or “overall pattern”) is all about how your mind loves to organise things into a bigger picture. Instead of noticing tiny details one by one, your brain tends to go, “Oh! I know what this is!” and turns random shapes into something meaningful, even when it’s not really there.

This very human quirk eventually evolved into Gestalt psychology, and from there into Gestalt therapy an experiential approach that aims to help you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours 

So, let’s unpack everything, including the famous Gestalt principles of perception, the work of Fritz Perls, the goals and limitations of Gestalt therapy, what actually happens in a session, and how it differs from other types of therapy.

And, of course, whether it might be right for 

 because therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all.

A Quick Origin Story: From Gestalt Psychology to Gestalt Therapy

Before Gestalt therapy was a thing, the early 20th-century Gestalt psychologists were busy asking important questions such as, “Why do humans see patterns where none exist?” and “Why is that triangle still a triangle even if half of it is missing?”

These researchers, Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, Wolfgang Köhler, and others founded Gestalt psychology, which focuses on perception and the idea that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This concept, gestaltism, eventually influenced many fields including art, design, cognitive psychology, and psychotherapy.

Fritz Perls, his wife Laura Perls, and later Paul Goodman blended Gestalt psychology with existentialism, humanistic psychology, Zen philosophy, and their own energetic personalities to create Gestalt therapy, a distinctive, creative, sometimes dramatic type of gestalt psychotherapy that emphasises awareness, presence, and personal responsibility.

Here’s the short answer: Gestalt therapy is a present-focused, experiential approach that helps people become more aware of what they’re feeling, thinking, and doing right now.

Here’s the slightly longer one: Gestalt therapy encourages you to stop operating on autopilot and start noticing what’s actually happening in your inner and outer world. Instead of analysing your past for months before doing anything practical, it asks:

A Gestalt therapist doesn’t sit silently and nod. They’re engaged, curious, and often invite you to try small, structured experiments called Gestalt therapy techniques or interventions. You won’t just 

The Gestalt Approach: Awareness, Presence, and Choice

If you want to understand Gestalt theory as it applies to therapy, there are three major pillars:

You cannot change what you are unaware of.  This is the foundation of the Gestalt approach. In therapy, you’ll often pause to observe your breathing, posture, or emotional shifts as you speak.

Gestalt therapy is famously anchored in the present moment. You may talk about past events, but the emphasis is on how they show up 

 - in your emotions, voice tone, or bodily sensations.

You’re encouraged to own your feelings, needs, and decisions rather than assigning them to “circumstances,” “people,” or “the universe doing its thing.”

These three principles form the backbone of Gestalt therapy’s goals and strategies helping you develop more authentic contact with yourself, others, and the world.

What Actually Happens in Gestalt Therapy? (Examples Included)

Every Gestalt psychotherapist works a little differently, but here are common things you may encounter.

Gestalt therapy sessions feel conversational, but they’re not random chats about your week. The therapist may draw attention to your expressions, or ask questions like:

This isn’t to annoy you (usually). It’s to help you stop glossing over important experiences.

Probably the most famous Gestalt technique, this involves speaking to an empty chair as though someone were sitting in it your partner, your boss, your fear, your younger self, or even your procrastination habit.

It sounds strange but is shockingly effective for getting emotion moving.

These experiments aren’t gimmicks. They help you access insight not just through your thoughts but through your entire experience.

This includes noticing your breathing, tone, posture, and what you feel as you speak. Instead of intellectualising (“I felt sad last week”), you’re invited to experience the emotion in real time (“I feel heaviness in my chest right now as I talk about it”).

How Gestalt Therapy Differs From Other Therapies

Gestalt therapy stands out in several ways:

It’s experiential, not just analytical.

 feelings, you’ll explore how they show up physically and emotionally in the moment.

It focuses heavily on present experience.

Where psychodynamic therapy might explore childhood patterns, Gestalt starts with: “What are you aware of right now?”

You’re not stuck sitting on a couch for 50 minutes. You may stand up, move, role-play, or interact with objects.

You won’t get a silent, blank-faced clinician. Gestalt therapists engage openly and invite contact.

Not in a blame-y way more like helping you see where you have power, choice, and agency.

Think of it as the difference between reading about swimming versus actually getting in the water.

These are the rules your brain uses to make sense of the world. They come from Gestalt psychology and include:

Gestalt therapists borrow these ideas metaphorically, helping you recognise which parts of your emotional life are “figure” and which fade into the “background”.

Gestalt therapy is often a great fit if you:

It can be especially helpful for anxiety, depression, emotional numbness, relationship issues, burnout, and general self-development.

 need a dramatic life crisis to benefit from Gestalt therapy. It’s excellent for curious people who want a deeper sense of themselves.

When Should You Consider Gestalt Therapy?

You might look into it if you often say things like:

Or if you want therapy that feels alive, not passive.

Like every method, Gestalt therapy has strengths and limitations.

A good gestalt psychotherapist will adjust the pace so you’re never overwhelmed.

Limitations of Gestalt Therapy (Realistically Speaking)

Gestalt therapy is powerful, but not the perfect fit for every situation. For example, people needing highly directive treatment, detailed behavioural plans, or trauma stabilisation might benefit from integrating other approaches. Gestalt therapy can still be used just often in combination with supportive interventions.

It’s also worth noting that Fritz Perls himself was a… colourful figure. His bold style influenced the field but doesn’t represent how modern Gestalt therapists work today. 

If yes, Gestalt therapy may be exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’re unsure, think of this approach as a blend of emotional awareness, mindfulness, practical exploration, and deep interpersonal connection. It helps you understand 

 you block your needs, feelings, or authenticity and how to stop doing that.

Modern Gestalt therapists are gentle, respectful, and highly trained in relational psychotherapy. They won’t force dramatic techniques on you, and they certainly won’t shame or interrogate you like the caricatures of old-school Gestalt encounters.

If we compress everything into one sentence:

Gestalt therapy is an experiential, present-centered, awareness-based psychotherapy that helps people understand themselves more fully and live with greater authenticity, connection, and choice.

But thankfully, therapy is more interesting than a nutshell.

Exploring Gestalt at Your Own Pace With Pleso Therapy

If you’re curious about the Gestalt approach, want to try classic Gestalt techniques, or simply want a more experiential way to understand yourself, our fully qualified, verified therapists are experienced in a wide range of techniques, our Gestalt therapists and counsellors can guide you.

Pleso therapists draw from Gestalt therapy, humanistic methods, and modern relational interventions to help you develop real self-awareness, work through emotional blocks, and build healthier ways of relating to yourself and others. If you're considering 

, our matching tool will help you find the best professional based on your needs so you can explore a whole range of approaches with someone supportive, experienced, and genuinely human.

Gestalt Therapy

Existential therapy helps you navigate life’s big questions and find meaning. Fill out the questionnaire on pleso.me to select the right therapist.

Existential Therapy: What Is It, Is It Right for You | Pleso Therapy

Existential therapy has a bit of a reputation.

People hear the word existential and immediately think of, well, existentialism. 

But existential therapy is not doom-and-gloom philosophy. It’s not about sitting in a chair and debating whether life is meaningless.

Instead, existential therapy is one of the most human, warm, and refreshingly honest forms of psychotherapy. It’s basically the therapy version of that friend who can talk about anything, your dreams, your fears, your heartbreaks, your “What am I even doing with my life?” moments.

So let’s answer the big question, in the least intimidating way possible:

At its core, existential therapy (also called existential psychotherapy) is a talking-based approach that helps people explore the big themes of human life, things like:

If this sounds philosophical… it is. But in a very approachable way.

Existential therapy = a way of exploring your life honestly, understanding what truly matters to you, and learning how to make meaning through your choices.

It isn't about diagnosing you. It isn’t about analysing your childhood for hidden traumas. It isn’t about giving you a checklist of coping skills.

It’s about helping you understand yourself as a human being navigating a complicated, chaotic world.

A Quick History of Existential Psychology 

Every great therapy approach has its founding characters, and existential psychology is no exception.

If psychoanalysis had Freud, existential therapy has: