Lynn Strathdee

Our Work Together

I work primarily from a psychodynamic and depth psychological perspective, looking not only at the difficulties you are experiencing in the present, but also at the unconscious processes and relational patterns that shape how you experience yourself, others, and the world.

With around 2000 post-qualification hours in this area, my specialism is in working with clients who experience coercive control and emotional and psychological abuse, including the complex narcissistic-echoistic dynamics that can develop within intimate relationships. I have significant experience supporting clients who are beginning to recognise these patterns, those who are trying to understand a relationship they are still in, those considering leaving, and those processing the psychological impact of a relationship after it has ended.

Coercive and psychologically abusive relationships can have a profound effect on a person's sense of self and their capacity to trust their own perceptions. The process is often gradual and difficult to recognise from within the relationship. Patterns of accommodation, self-silencing, hypervigilance, guilt and responsibility for the other person's emotional state can become deeply embedded, sometimes leaving very little space for one's own needs, feelings and sense of agency. In narcissistic-echoistic dynamics, there can be a particularly powerful interplay between one person's need for recognition, control or emotional regulation through the other, and the other's tendency to accommodate, appease or organise themselves around those needs.

Therapy can provide a space to begin making sense of these dynamics and of the role you may have come to occupy within them. We can explore how these patterns have developed, what has kept them in place, and what they may have come to mean for you and your relationships. For those who have left an abusive relationship, the work may also involve coming to terms with the emotional complexity that remains, and gradually restoring a sense of trust in your own perceptions, needs and judgement. I work with these experiences carefully and without imposing a particular course of action, respecting your autonomy and the circumstances in which you find yourself.

Alongside this specialist work, we may explore attachment patterns, internalised relationships, self-concept and identity, emotional defences and the wider patterns that may be playing out in your life. I pay close attention to what develops within the therapeutic relationship itself, as this can provide important insights into long-standing ways of relating and into aspects of experience that may be difficult to articulate.

I also encourage clients to bring dreams to sessions. From a depth psychological perspective, dreams can offer a way of approaching unconscious material and experiences that may not yet have found expression in ordinary waking thought.

I work with curiosity, reflection, and emotional depth. My aim is not simply to help you alleviate symptoms, but also to develop a deeper understanding of your experience and of the patterns that shape it, creating the possibility for greater integration and lasting change.

I am happy to discuss a concessionary fee for those clients who are unable to afford the full fee. Please tell me about this when you make contact.

Practice Description

I work online, face-to-face, or in a hybrid way with adults in ongoing, weekly psychotherapy. I offer a safe and reflective space in which emotional difficulties, relationship patterns and experiences that may feel confusing, painful or difficult to change can be explored.

I work with a wide range of difficulties, including anxiety, low mood, difficulties with self-esteem, questions of identity and significant life transitions. A particular focus of my practice, however, is supporting people affected by coercive control and psychological abuse.

Sessions take place weekly and are open-ended. My way of working is collaborative and thoughtful, with an emphasis on developing understanding over time rather than offering quick solutions.

Our First Session

The first session is an initial assessment and an opportunity for us to meet and begin to think together about what has brought you to therapy and what you may be hoping for from the work.

I will usually ask about your current difficulties, relevant personal and relational history, and any previous experience of therapy or other support. This helps me to develop a fuller picture of your circumstances and to consider whether I am the right therapist, with the appropriate experience and approach, to support you.

The assessment is also an opportunity for you to get a sense of how it feels to work with me. You may wish to notice whether you feel able to speak openly, how you experience the space, and whether my way of working feels like a good fit for you. There is no expectation that you need to make a decision immediately.

If we decide together to continue, sessions usually take place weekly and are open-ended. If it becomes clear that I am not the right person to work with you, I will discuss this with you and, where possible, suggest alternative options.