Meaningful therapy offers a way out of ordinary but devastating narcissism, according to a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Writing in the Guardian, the therapist describes how psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy can help people understand the unconscious conflicts and traumas that prevent them from relating to themselves and others.
The therapist recalls her own experience on the analyst's couch, feeling a deep hollowness and shame, but finding that her analyst did not react with horror. This helped her to tolerate her own feelings and eventually find solace in community, nature, work, and love. She argues that without such help, many remain trapped in narcissism, unable to look outward.
However, the provision of psychodynamic psychotherapy on the NHS has been consistently diminished over decades, with very limited availability now. The therapist criticises these cuts, saying they undermine values of equality, quality of care, and parity of esteem for mental and physical health. She calls for people to march in the streets to fight for sustained provision.
The therapist acknowledges that she is privileged to afford therapy but insists it should not be only for the well-off. Low-fee schemes exist at some clinics, but not everyone can access them. She argues that the ability to benefit from therapy has nothing to do with wealth or education, though intellectual defences can sometimes be a barrier.
