The essence of psychodynamic psychotherapy is exploring aspects of the self that are the psychological roots of emotional suffering and bringing them into consciousness. Psychodynamic psychotherapy requires self-reflection, self-exploration and self-discovery which takes place in the context of a safe and deeply authentic relationship between therapist and patient. The material that arises provides a rich source of information about how a person views themselves and others, interprets and makes sense of their experience, and interferes with the potential capacity to find greater enjoyment and meaning in life. The goal is not just symptom remission, but to foster positive psychological capacity. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective for a wide range of mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic and stress-related physical ailments, and the benefits of the therapy have been shown to increase after treatment has ended.