[PetalPower]

Hi there,

I am posting on here to ask for advice and/or other people's experiences Re: Recommended break between seeing different Psychoanalytical/Psychodynamic psychotherapists.

I am based in the UK. I have long standing psychological difficulties. I recently received 16 months (52 sessions) of weekly psychoanalytical psychotherapy on the National Health Service (NHS) which ended in December 2018. It is rare to be offered long term in-depth psychological psychotherapy on the NHS now. The treatment was terminated by the therapist; as the Psychology department were no longer offering this type of therapy from Jan 2019. Otherwise, it is likely that I would have been offered 2 years of treatment. I was informed 3 months in advance that the treatment was going to end.

The therapist indicated to me that he would not see a client; until they have had a break of 3 months between seeing different therapists. I have had a follow up appointment with a Clinical Psychologist in the same Psychology department since the treatment ended for assessment, support and advice. He explained that it can be beneficial to have a longer break before starting work with a new psychotherapist e.g. 6-12 months; to process the effects of the treatment. He has confirmed that I would benefit from further psychological treatment; which leads to structural personality change. No further treatment is available on the NHS.

I am considering paying for further psychodynamic/psychoanalytical psychotherapy. This would be funded by my savings; as I am on a low income.

My experience of accessing psychological therapies on the NHS over the past 10 years has been somewhat unsatisfactory. When I have received treatment it has been very good quality. However, I have only recently had information about the type of treatment that is likely to have an impact; as described above. I have received some treatments in the past which have not been appropriate.

I had difficulty tolerating the psychoanalytical psychotherapy during the first 4-5 months of treatment; due to the strong affects. However, I persevered with it. The treatment has had a beneficial impact on my psychological health. However, it is quite subtle and I am still becoming aware of the impact of the treatment e.g. Noticing that I may respond to certain situations differently than I did before.

As I have finally found something which is helping me after a very long time I am quite keen to start work with another psychotherapist after 3-4 months if there is the availability. I am concerned that I may have more barriers to accessing the treatment in future e.g. less flexible employer, less disposable income. However, I also understand that it may be beneficial to have a longer break e.g. up to 12 months and see how I am without the psychotherapy. Part of me still feels a bit angry that the treatment was terminated before 2 years. I was in the middle of treatment. I don't want the inconvenience of having a long break.

I would be interested to hear about other people's experiences; whom have had long term in-depth psychotherapy e.g. Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytical e.g. How you felt after it ended, the length of time you had between seeing different psychotherapists if you have worked with more than one etc. and how you found that and any other feedback you think may be useful.

[Omers]

My last T was Family Systems and I took a three year break after I terminated with her (on good terms) because we were not getting anywhere. In that time my view of my treatment with her and treatment in general changed a lot. I was/am very upset about the “work” with her and other previous T’s. Time to reflect let me see how harmful many previous Ts had been and how others were just a pure waste of my limited resources. I found it very hard to renter therapy but have. New T is amaizing and SO much progress in just 7 sessions. I wish I could have found current T 18 years ago.
I would think a lot of it would also depend on what you are dealing with. I am working through CPTSD.

[ArtleyWilkins]

I had significant breaks between therapists, and the breaks served a purpose. The breaks weren't really by design; they just happened to be that way and were of many years in length. I think the time between gave me a period to see where I stood without that additional support. It also allowed me to go to the next therapist with a newly thought set of personal goals for my therapy that perhaps I wouldn't have had as clear a picture of if I had moved directly from one therapist to the next. It also allowed me to start each therapy as a clean slate, eliminating the probably natural tendency to compare one therapist to the last.

My three periods of therapy were very different from each other due to the time between. I was really at different places in my life each time, and while many of the underlying issues were the same, where I was in my present life was quite different so it was like seeing the past through a different lense.

I think breaks are good if a person is stable enough to manage for awhile. Some time on our own to reflect without a therapist can be insightful.

[PetalPower]

Thank you both for your replies. I appreciate it. They are helpful.