Christine McLaren

Psychodynamic counselling depends on a trusted and boundaried relationship through which many – often frightening – experiences, feelings and ideas may be explored safely and confidentially. How we deal with the present may have its roots in difficult experiences and relationships in the past, which is why, for example, a current crisis can feel confusing and inexplicable or you find yourself repeating a pattern of behaviour that you find hard to break. 'Psychodynamic' means a therapeutic approach that takes its origins from Freud but also includes later developments, such as attachment theories.

I am a psychodynamic therapist currently working with adults and am a registered member of the BACP and a registrant of the BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council). My private practice is based in comfortable consulting rooms in both central Cheltenham and Cirencester. I work face to face with individuals for both long-term and short-term counselling, depending on what seems appropriate. We would start with two consultations to see what feels right for you and then meet weekly at the same time and the same place for a session lasting 50 minutes until you felt you wanted to end the therapy. 

I believe in trying to think flexibly around mental health labels and diagnoses and to explore what each individual’s capacities for understanding might be. We work together to try to understand what makes sense to you. Through this – sometimes challenging – exploration, a new approach to life may be achieved, with new perspectives on the past and present, a richer sense of self and autonomy, and a greater capacity for relationships.

I have a post-graduate qualification in working psychodynamically with children, adolescents and young adults. I work with older teenagers and students in private practice.