"Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT)"

I self-referred myself to Ealing IAPT services after experiencing intense anxiety after ending a long and abusive relationship with my ex-husband. Having experienced an unstable childhood because of wars and an emotionally unavailable father, I found my self with a lot of trauma and anxiety that I could not deal with on my own without proper intervention.

I worked with my therapist, Shole, to look at underlying patterns in my relationships with people around me and how to best deal with the anxieties I was feeling. The therapy was intense and at times I felt that my world as I know it is all crumbling apart as we started to understand my behavioural pattern and anxieties around men in particular and how that has left an impact on my mental and even physical wellbeing. By the end of the therapy, I fully understood these patterns and  became  more aware of my behaviours and learnt how to put healthier boundaries with men and family.

Overall, my experience has been positive. however, I feel that the limit on the number of sessions provided by NHS is a restrictive factor in this kind of therapy. I felt pressured to "complete" the therapy within a timeframe even when I didn't feel completely ready to be on "my own". The therapist was extremely professional and helpful and has done her utmost to ensure that I leave with assurance and the awareness and knowledge of how to deal with similar issues should they arise.