Person-Centred vs Psychodynamic Therapy: What’s the difference?

Person Centred vs Psychodynamic Therapy: What’s the difference?

If you’ve been looking into therapy, you might have come across terms like person centred or psychodynamic and wondered what they actually mean. I use both approaches in my work, and often blend them in a way that suits each individual client. You don’t need to know all the theory, but it can be reassuring to get a rough idea of what to expect.

Let’s keep it simple.

Person Centred Therapy: Starting with you

Person centred therapy is based on the idea that you are the expert on your own experience. It’s all about offering a space where you feel safe, accepted, and heard, without judgement and without pressure. We focus on what’s going on for you in the present moment, and I trust that you’ll bring what matters most when you’re ready. It’s not about advice or fixing. It’s about supporting you to explore your thoughts and feelings, and to become more in tune with your own sense of self.

This way of working can help you feel more connected to who you are, and more confident in making choices that feel right for you.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Looking beneath the surface

Psychodynamic therapy takes into account that not everything we feel or do is fully conscious. Sometimes patterns from the past, especially from early relationships, play out in the present without us realising. This approach is more focused on making sense of those patterns, understanding how the past might be shaping your emotional world today, and gently exploring things that might feel harder to put into words.

It can offer deep insight and clarity, especially if you’ve noticed the same struggles or relational patterns showing up again and again.

Why I use both

In practice, these two approaches often work really well together. Some sessions might feel more present-focused and led by what you need that day. Other times, we might pause and gently wonder about where certain feelings or patterns come from. It’s not either-or, it’s about responding to you, rather than squeezing you into a fixed method.

You don’t need to choose a side, or even remember the terms. What matters is that we create a space that feels safe, respectful, and open to wherever you need to go.

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