If you are wondering how to choose a good psychotherapist, is important to know that psychoanalytic psychotherapy may be suitable if you desire a deep understanding of your mental and behavioural patterns. It is a form of therapy that requires a serious commitment, involving consistent session frequency and a sincere exploration of your contributions to difficult situations.

You may want to understand more about what lies beneath the surface, identify patterns you want to change. Perhaps you've tried other types of therapy that didn't work, or maybe your symptoms have changed (you may no longer have panic attacks, but now you struggle with insomnia). Your relationships may be falling apart, or you notice a pattern in your relationships with the opposite sex. Understanding these patterns is the first step toward change and a more balanced life.

When you ask yourself how to choose a good psychotherapist, is essential to focus on the therapist's experience, specialization, and therapeutic approach. Check if the psychotherapist is trained in a specific therapeutic method and whether they inspire trust. An initial meeting can be a good opportunity to assess compatibility and discuss your challenges.

If you feel it's time for a deep process of self-awareness and healing, schedule a psychoanalytic psychotherapy session and begin the journey toward emotional balance.

The beginning of therapy starts with what we call the preliminary interviews. This refers to a series of 3-5 sessions at the start, offering the opportunity for us to get to know each other. This is the time when you can find answers to the question How to choose a good psychotherapist? It is important to feel comfortable and trust your therapist, and during these sessions, you will have the opportunity to assess whether my approach suits you and if you wish to continue.

At the beginning of psychotherapy, it's important for me to understand the issues that brought you to me, as well as your life history and context. I will try to understand the present reasons that led to the phone call for scheduling. You will have the opportunity to ask questions to help you understand whether you want to continue or clarify any unclear aspects.

The pace and frequency of sessions vary depending on each person's needs. It could be one session per week for steady progress or a more intense rhythm, with up to 3-5 sessions per week.

How to choose a good psychotherapist? Together, we will assess the most suitable frequency, considering your comfort and internal resources. The choice can range from one session per week to a more intense rhythm, depending on how involved and available you feel in the therapeutic process.

It is essential that the patient's comfort is prioritized when choosing the frequency of sessions, which can be influenced by both personal availability and financial considerations, as a faster pace involves a significant additional effort. However, viewed as an investment in one's mental health, therapy can lead to excellent long-term results. Additionally, the number of sessions does not reflect the degree of the patient's distress, but rather the level of engagement and their willingness to dedicate themselves to the therapeutic process.

An essential aspect of psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the stability of the session schedule. The day and time initially set remain the same throughout the therapy, providing continuity and predictability. For example, if your session is on Tuesday at 1:00 PM, it will be exclusively reserved for you until the end of the therapeutic process.

Each session lasts 45 minutes and begins at the scheduled time, regardless of when you arrive. The advantage of this system is that you won't have to wait for another patient, but in case of a delay, the session will end at the scheduled time, without extensions.

Another important aspect is the policy regarding absences. Missed sessions are charged, as that time was reserved specifically for you. However, in exceptional cases, such as medical issues or previously announced trips, rescheduling is possible. At the same time, planned vacations by both the patient and the therapist do not require payment.

If you are wondering how to choose a good psychotherapist, it is important to consider the working method, the therapeutic approach, and the compatibility between you and the specialist.

When you have in mind How to choose a good psychotherapist?It is important to understand that therapy is about you and your suffering. It is perfectly legitimate to be curious about your psychotherapist, but we must maintain a clear boundary between what is about you and what is about me. If we start discussing my own pain, it would mean we are bypassing the purpose of your therapy. It would be an invasion of my presence in your space, which is dedicated to your healing process.

However, it is absolutely beneficial to discuss your curiosity about me. We can talk about what you think or imagine about me, because this can help us understand many things about how you perceive relationships with others. How you relate to me as your therapist often reflects how you relate to other relationships in your life, and this can be an important indicator in your process of self-exploration.

Psychotherapy is not just about eliminating a symptom, but also about identifying its cause and the possibility of a deep restructuring of ourselves as individuals. Changing behaviors and thoughts learned over the years doesn’t happen quickly; it’s a gradual process that requires patience and self-observation. Often, we will take steps forward and backward, and progress becomes visible only as we start to better understand what influences our thoughts and emotions. Change is a mutual commitment, in which the patient must address those unresolved issues to bring them to light and understand them.

The duration of therapy can vary; in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, significant changes can occur even after a few sessions, although most therapies are long-term. Some patients choose to continue therapy long-term, seeing it as a way to consistently care for their mental health. However, progress does not depend solely on the end of therapy, but on ongoing commitment.

How to choose a good psychotherapist? It is essential to choose a professional who understands these complex processes and will guide you with patience and understanding through this journey of self-discovery and change.

Yes, it is important to talk about your feelings and emotions in therapy. From this perspective, how to choose a good psychotherapist can be influenced by their ability to create a safe space to explore these emotions.

Psychoanalytic therapy focuses on the patient in their entirety, not just their thoughts and actions, but also their feelings and emotions. It is true that identifying and verbalizing what you feel can take time and practice, as it is a process of deep self-observation. Sometimes, when a patient is able to express in words what they truly feel, this moment can represent an important stage, perhaps even the beginning of the end of the analysis. It is a sign that the patient has made significant progress in understanding and accepting their own emotions, and this step can open the way for meaningful change.

It is natural to have such fears, and they can become an essential topic of exploration in therapy. If you're wondering how to choose a good psychotherapistIt is important to find a professional who creates a safe, non-judgmental space where you feel free to speak openly. If we start by labeling or judging someone, we would close the conversation before truly understanding it. From my role as a psychotherapist, I will strive to remain curious above all, which means keeping the conversation open and avoiding premature conclusions. This means that our goal will be to explore, understand, and not close the topic before we dive deeper into it.

Sexuality is a fundamental part of our identity and can profoundly influence the way we relate to ourselves and others. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, this subject can be addressed when the patient feels ready. There is no obligation to discuss sexuality, but there is the freedom to do so in a safe and non-judgmental space. Every person has their own pace, and respecting this pace is essential.

How to choose a good psychotherapist? It is important to find a professional who provides you with an authentic space for exploration, where you feel heard and understood.

Yes, psychodynamic therapy can address and treat traumatic experiences. In fact, one of the fundamental features of psychoanalysis is that it deeply explores past experiences, unresolved traumas, and how these may influence present behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Within psychodynamic psychotherapy, the goal is not just to treat the obvious symptoms, but also to understand the deeper causes behind them.

Traumas, especially those from childhood, can leave deep imprints in the subconscious, manifesting through various symptoms (such as anxiety, panic attacks, difficult relationships, self-sabotaging behaviors) and influencing the way you relate to others and yourself. Psychodynamic therapy helps the patient explore these traumas and bring them into consciousness, so they can better understand the connection between their past and how they behave and feel in the present.

If you are wondering how to choose a good psychotherapist to work with trauma, it is important to find a therapist who creates a safe and empathetic space, dedicated to your deep understanding and healing process.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but an act of courage and emotional maturity. Acknowledging that you are facing difficulties and the desire to understand better what is happening with you are essential steps in the process of change. Often, our reactions to stress or difficult situations are influenced by mechanisms learned in the past, which can become obstacles rather than helping us.

How to choose a good psychotherapist? Look for a professional with whom you feel safe and who can provide the necessary support to explore and overcome these difficulties.

A psychotherapist will not tell you what to do or what decisions to make because each person and situation is unique. My role is to support you in your process of self-discovery, helping you better understand what lies at the core of your thoughts and behaviors. In psychodynamic therapy, we learn to get to know ourselves better, and I provide you with the tools needed to navigate through life.

How to choose a good psychotherapist? Look for a specialist with whom you resonate, someone who provides a safe space for introspection and change.

Confidentiality is essential in psychotherapy, as it forms the foundation of a trusting and safe relationship. Without this guarantee, the patient cannot fully open up and explore their issues in detail. The psychotherapist is required to uphold confidentiality, in accordance with the Deontological Code and the ethical regulations that govern the profession.

How to choose a good psychotherapist? Find a professional who guarantees your confidentiality and provides a safe space, protecting your privacy throughout your journey of self-discovery.

B.2. Protecting Confidentiality
10. The confidentiality of psychological work is protected by law and is an obligation for every psychologist. Disclosure, without the client’s consent, by psychologists of information entrusted to them or that they have come to know in the course of their profession is prohibited, except for situations provided by legal regulations. The psychologist’s obligation to maintain confidentiality is not time-limited.

B.3. Limits of Confidentiality
11. Before obtaining consent, the psychologist will inform the client about the limits of confidentiality and the conditions under which it may be violated, as well as the use of information resulting from their activity.
12. Psychologists will specifically inform clients regarding:
a) legal or ethical obligations that may require disclosure of information;
b) the possibility that the psychologist may consult with colleagues to enhance the effectiveness of the service provided;
c) the need for the presence of a third party (translator, interpreter, family member, or legal representative) in situations where necessary;
d) the risks and limits of confidentiality when services, products, or information are provided through electronic means of transmission.

B.4. Disclosure of Information
13. Psychologists may share confidential information with others only with the consent of the parties concerned or in a manner that ensures those concerned cannot be identified, except in cases where disclosure is a legal obligation or is permitted by law for a legitimate purpose, such as providing professional services in emergency situations or protecting the client, the psychologist, or others from potential harm.
14. Even in these situations, psychologists will disclose only the information necessary in the context or situation and relevant to the professional goal pursued, respecting, except in cases provided by law, the authorization given by the client.
15. Situations that lead to the disclosure of confidential information and the reasons behind them must be documented.