Therapy & Counselling in Islington, London | City Road Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy 
in Islington, London

Some things don’t yield to practical techniques or structured exercises. Some difficulties are rooted too deeply — in early experiences, in the relationships that shaped us, in the patterns we’ve carried so long we’ve stopped noticing them. Psychodynamic therapy is designed for exactly that kind of work.

At City Road Therapy, our psychodynamic therapists in Islington offer expert, thoughtful, depth-oriented therapy — in person at our Angel therapy rooms and via online therapy across London and the UK.

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You can either choose the therapist yourself or you can let us help you find a good match.

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Private therapy session at City Road Therapy, 335 City Road, Islington

What is psychodynamic therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is a depth-oriented approach rooted in the understanding that much of what drives our behaviour, our feelings, and our relationships lies beneath conscious awareness. It draws on the insights of psychoanalysis — particularly the work of Freud, Winnicott, Bowlby, and others — while evolving considerably from those origins into a modern, relational, and evidence-based practice.

At its heart, psychodynamic therapy rests on several core ideas:

The unconscious shapes us

Many of our emotional responses, relationship patterns, and ways of being in the world are driven by experiences and feelings we are not fully aware of. Making the unconscious more conscious — gradually, safely, and with genuine curiosity — is one of the primary tasks of psychodynamic work.

The past lives in the present

Early relationships and experiences — particularly in childhood — shape the templates through which we understand ourselves and others. Patterns formed in those early years often repeat themselves in adult relationships and in the way we relate to ourselves. Psychodynamic therapy explores these patterns with care.

The therapeutic relationship is itself therapeutic

The relationship between therapist and client is not merely a vehicle for delivering techniques — it is itself a space in which old patterns can be noticed, explored, and, over time, changed. A good psychodynamic therapist pays close attention to what happens between you in the room.

Psychodynamic therapy is typically longer-term than approaches like CBT, though shorter-term psychodynamic therapy (STDP) is also available and effective for more focused work.

Psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-based therapy

Psychodynamic therapy encompasses a family of related approaches. At City Road Therapy, our therapists draw on all three:

Psychodynamic therapy

The foundational approach — exploring unconscious patterns, defences, and the ways early experiences continue to influence present-day life. Pays particular attention to recurring themes and patterns, and to the emotional texture of the therapeutic relationship.

Relational therapy

An evolution of psychodynamic thinking that places the therapeutic relationship itself at the centre of the work. Relational therapists are more explicitly present and mutual than classical psychodynamic practitioners. Particularly useful for people whose difficulties centre on intimacy, trust, and connection.

Attachment-based therapy

Grounded in John Bowlby’s attachment theory — the idea that our earliest relationships with caregivers create internal working models that shape all subsequent relationships. Particularly relevant for people with histories of trauma, neglect, or inconsistent early caregiving.

These approaches are closely related and our therapists often integrate all three — drawing on whichever aspect of the framework is most useful at any given point in the work.

Calm therapy room at City Road Therapy, Islington, London
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What psychodynamic therapy can help with

Psychodynamic therapy is particularly well-suited to difficulties that feel deep-rooted, long-standing, or resistant to more surface-level approaches. Our psychodynamic therapists work with:

Depression and chronic low mood

Particularly where depression feels connected to long-standing patterns of self-criticism, unresolved loss, or a fundamental sense of not being good enough. → Depression Therapy in Islington

Anxiety rooted in early experience

Where anxiety feels less like a response to current circumstances and more like a pervasive, chronic state that has been present for as long as you can remember. → Anxiety Therapy in Islington

Trauma and complex PTSD

Particularly for complex, developmental, or relational trauma — where the impact is diffuse and pervasive rather than centred on a single incident. → Trauma Therapy in Islington

Relationship difficulties

Recurring patterns in relationships — always ending up in the same dynamic, difficulty with intimacy or trust — are often where psychodynamic therapy is most powerfully transformative. → Couples & Relationship Therapy in Islington

Grief and loss

Particularly complicated or prolonged grief, or grief entangled with ambivalence, guilt, or a difficult relationship with the person lost. → Grief Counselling in Islington

Life transitions and identity

Questions of who you are, what you want, and why you keep making the same choices — the existential and identity work that psychodynamic therapy handles with particular depth. → Life Transitions Therapy in Islington

Low self-esteem and self-worth

A deep, pervasive sense of not being good enough — often rooted in early experiences — that hasn’t shifted despite external achievements or positive circumstances.

Psychodynamic therapy is also valuable for people who simply want to understand themselves better — who are not in crisis but feel that something about how they live, relate, or experience themselves is worth exploring more deeply.

What to expect from psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy has a different rhythm from approaches like CBT. There are no structured exercises or between-session tasks. Instead, sessions are more open — you bring what’s on your mind, what’s been happening, what you’ve been feeling — and your therapist listens carefully, reflects, and draws your attention to patterns and themes that emerge over time.

The first session

Your first session is a conversation about what’s brought you to therapy — your history, how things are now, and what you’re hoping for. Your therapist will be curious, attentive, and entirely non-judgemental. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you arrive.

The ongoing work

Sessions are 50 minutes, typically weekly. Unlike CBT, psychodynamic therapy doesn’t follow a fixed protocol or end after a set number of sessions — the work deepens over time, and the most meaningful shifts often happen gradually and cumulatively rather than as sudden breakthroughs.

How long does it take?

Short-term psychodynamic therapy — focused on a specific theme or difficulty — can be effective in 16–24 sessions. Open-ended psychodynamic therapy is often longer-term, sometimes a year or more. This is not a sign of inefficiency; it reflects the depth and scope of what the work is addressing. Your therapist will always be honest about timelines and will review progress with you regularly.

We offer both in-person sessions at our Islington therapy rooms and online sessions via secure video.

Is psychodynamic therapy right for you?

Psychodynamic therapy is likely a good fit if:

  • You want to understand the roots of your difficulties — not just manage the symptoms
  • You’ve tried CBT or other structured approaches and found they helped with surface symptoms but didn’t get to the heart of things
  • Your difficulties feel long-standing, complex, or hard to pin to a specific cause
  • You’re interested in self-understanding as a value in itself — not just symptom relief
  • You’re willing to commit to a longer-term process
  • You want a deep, genuine therapeutic relationship rather than a technical intervention

A different approach may suit you better if:

  • You need relatively rapid symptom relief for a specific, identifiable difficulty
  • You prefer structure, clear techniques, and measurable progress
  • You’re dealing with a specific trauma where EMDR is likely to be faster and highly effective

→ CBT Therapy in Islington

→ EMDR Therapy in Islington

→ Integrative Therapy in Islington

Find out more about all the therapeutic approaches available at City Road Therapy on our services page.

Our Psychodynamic therapists in Islington

City Road Therapy has several therapists trained in Psychodynamic, available for sessions in person at our Islington therapy rooms and online across London and the UK.

 

 

→ Browse the full therapist directory and filter by approach to find an Psychodynamic-trained therapist.

Not sure who to approach? Let us help you find the right match — we’ll consider your specific situation, therapeutic needs, and availability.

Psychodynamic therapy in Islington — depth-oriented support at City Road Therapy

City Road Therapy is based at 335 City Road, Angel, Islington, London EC1V 1LJ — a short walk from Angel tube station (Northern line) and easily accessible from Old Street and Highbury & Islington. We serve clients from across North London and beyond — and offer online therapy via Zoom or Teams for clients across London and the UK.

Our psychodynamic therapists hold postgraduate training in psychodynamic, relational, and attachment-based approaches and are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), HCPC, or other recognised professional bodies.

City Road Therapy has been based in Islington since 2011. Depth-oriented, longer-term work has always been at the heart of what we offer — alongside shorter-term and more structured approaches. Whatever the depth or duration of work you’re looking for, we’ll help you find the right therapist.

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Common questions about psychodynamic therapy in Islington

How is psychodynamic therapy different from CBT?

CBT focuses primarily on the present — identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours, typically over a shorter and more structured course of treatment. Psychodynamic therapy focuses on depth and history — exploring the unconscious patterns, early experiences, and relational dynamics that underlie present difficulties. Both are evidence-based. The choice depends on what you’re dealing with and what kind of process suits you. Many of our therapists integrate both.

Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?

Yes. There is a substantial and growing body of evidence for psychodynamic therapy’s effectiveness — including for depression, anxiety, personality difficulties, and somatic conditions. A major meta-analysis by Shedler (2010) found effect sizes for psychodynamic therapy comparable to those reported for other evidence-based treatments. Importantly, research also suggests that gains from psychodynamic therapy continue to increase after treatment ends — a finding not consistently replicated for more structured approaches.

How long will I need to be in psychodynamic therapy?

Short-term psychodynamic therapy for a focused difficulty can be effective in 16–24 sessions. Open-ended work exploring deeper patterns typically runs longer — often a year or more. Your therapist will discuss this honestly in your first session and review it regularly throughout. There is no pressure to continue beyond what is genuinely useful.

Can psychodynamic therapy be done online?

Yes — psychodynamic therapy works well online. The relational depth that characterises this approach is fully possible via video, and many clients find online sessions just as meaningful as in-person work. All of our psychodynamic therapists offer online sessions via Zoom or Teams.

What is the difference between psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis — in its classical form — involves multiple sessions per week, often over many years, and uses the couch (the client lying down, not facing the analyst). Psychodynamic therapy is a more flexible derivative — conducted face to face, typically weekly, and ranging from months to several years. The underlying theoretical framework is shared but the format is considerably more accessible.

Ready to explore something deeper?

Living with unprocessed trauma takes an enormous toll — on your wellbeing, your relationships, and your sense of who you are. EMDR offers a well-evidenced, effective path through it. You don’t have to keep carrying this.

The first step is a free, no-obligation 15-minute consultation — a chance to ask questions and find the right therapist for you.

📍 City Road Therapy, 335 City Road, Angel, Islington, London EC1V 1LJ

In-person EMDR sessions in Islington. Online EMDR available across London and the UK.

If you are currently in crisis, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours) or go to your nearest A&E.

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City Road Therapy is not a crisis service. If you need immediate support, please contact the Samaritans — free, 24 hours — on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. You can also contact us directly at consultations.cityroadtherapy@gmail.com.
Please note: Our building at 335 City Road is a period property and is not currently wheelchair accessible. Online therapy via Zoom or Teams is available to all clients and works just as well as in-person work for most presentations.