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Kingston Psychotherapy Service offers 9 to 12 months of weekly individual psychodynamic psychotherapy to patients who are suitably assessed to be likely to benefit from this form of non-directive psychological treatment.
- Service Type: Adult Community Services
- Service Contact: anthony.ang@swlstg.nhs.uk
- Service Category: Community
- Address: Acacia Unit, Tolworth Hospital, Red Lion Road, Tolworth, KT6 7QU
- Reception hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
- Reception phone number: 020 3513 5000
About our care
We offer 9 to 12 months of weekly individual psychodynamic psychotherapy to patients who are suitably assessed to be likely to benefit from this form of non-directive psychological treatment. This is delivered by trainee psychiatrists under the close supervision of the Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy or a Higher Specialist Trainee in Medical Psychotherapy who would have assessed the patient.
Periodically, we may have a resident Higher Specialist Trainee in Medical Psychotherapy who could offer time limited brief psychodynamically informed therapy, weekly group psychotherapy, and more intensive individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy with close supervision from Consultant Psychiatrists in Psychotherapy.
Who is this service for?
This service is for people aged 18 and over.
Referrals and access
We offer psychotherapy consultation for people living in Kingston borough only and who are seeking Specialist advice of appropriate psychotherapy to help with their recovery.This includes colleagues in Kingston SPA, HTT, IRH, Perinatal Services, PD Pathway, EIS, etc.
We accept referrals for psychotherapy assessment following the return of a completed pre-assessment questionnaire that would be sent by mail or email to the referred patient. Following this, the patient would be offered two or three face-to-face sessions as part of the psychotherapy assessment process. After the assessment process, a report with Specialist recommendations would be written to the referrer.
Patients seeking psychotherapy would generally not be in acute crisis when they are at heightened risks or have no fixed abode. They would need to be sufficiently motivated and able to attend weekly sessions (50 minutes each) in person at Tolworth Hospital.
Patients with the following conditions may need to address them with appropriate input prior to referral for psychotherapy assessment:
(1) Ongoing dependence on alcohol or substances with frequent periods of intoxications;
(2) Acute psychotic symptoms, degree of brain or organic impairment that interfere with ability to concentrate and have an interactive conversation;
(3) Frequent severe self harming with risk of rapid medical deterioration or high immediate risk of acting on suicidal ideation;
(4) Heightened distress related to impending court hearing or safeguarding events.
Patient information
Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy is a type of talking and listening treatment that seeks to help a person better understand and become more aware of how their past experiences might relate to their current distress and interpersonal difficulties. The way we see and relate to others and the world develops through relationships made in infancy, childhood and later life. Disturbances in these relationships can produce continuing vulnerabilities, symptoms and relationship problems in later life. Symptoms have a meaning the context of our lives, and difficulties in relationships often follow patterns laid down in earlier life.
The therapist offers a reliable and professional relationship in a safe boundaries setting where old patterns may be repeated but can be thought about and understood in a way that frees people to change. It is key that the patient and the therapist form a good enough relationship of trust with agreement to be curious, open and willing to explore more private or hidden aspects of their lives, thoughts, feelings, desires, wishes and motives in due course. It is non-directive in that the therapist does not usually set the agenda for each session but follows the patient to speak about whatever is in his/her mind.
