PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
Psychodynamic means we care about the deeper parts of your psyche. We feel that these parts are the ones that are causing you trouble- not because they're 'bad,' per se, but because they're unconscious and thus have not been given a chance to adjust. When we're together, we let your thoughts and feelings unfold- we don’t target specific symptoms and don’t tell you what to talk about. Share what comes to mind and try not to censor. Through this process, those unconscious parts come to the surface. Then and only then can we make adjustments to how you live and relate that actually last.
Despite this belief in letting your troubles unfold, I am an active listener. I speak plenty, and I’ll offer guidance and structure, as needed. Nevertheless, my attunement to you is critical in this process. I dial in and hold your emotions, so you don’t get overwhelmed. It’s like lightly holding you while you learn how to swim; I’ll let go only when I know you can handle it.
All the while, the relationship builds. We use what you say and how we bond as the backbone for lasting change. Our regularity in meeting is intimate and you develop feelings and reactions to me, and I to you. You depend on me to be healthy and able to tolerate what you want to share with me about those reactions. I offer you feedback about what it’s like to be with you, to know you, and to witness your defensive maneuvers in action.
Through all of this, we learn how your past shaped your present, what you did and didn’t get in life, and that how you adapted to this has shaped who you are now.
Topics covered by Psychodynamic therapy:
Anxiety (anxiety possesses a unique meaning; learn the meaning, harness the power)
Emotion management (gain insight into your emotional world; learn to enjoy your emotions)
Pain management (understand what pain signals and surprising ways to cope with it)
Communication (be honest and clear, don't hold back, own your thoughts)
Relationships (find and maintain deep, satisfying connections with others through honesty and authenticity)
Interpersonal interactions (feel solid and less fake, be more spontaneous, and less defensive)
Social angst and nervousness (avoid less social situations and learn how avoidance makes your angst worse)
Defensiveness (learn how you defend yourself from pain and abandonment and how to change it)
Avoidance of pain (abandonment fuels our defenses; release psychic energy by avoiding less)
Acquiescence to others (discover how often and how subtly you give in to others)
Putting others' needs first (find out why you prioritize others, put a stop to it, and see how it feels to be #1)
Existential angst (uncover who you are, why you're here, and how you can make the most of your life)​
Trauma and grief (recovering from and processing old and new losses, abandonments, and disappointments)
THERAPY PREVIEW
Ask yourself:
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If what I'm doing isn't working, why not?
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What would it mean for me to 'live authentically'?
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Do I know how to draw boundaries?
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What would change look and feel like?
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What do I need?
I want to help you answer these questions
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Therapy population: Adults. In-person and virtual sessions available
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An understanding of anxiety and the power it holds is a cornerstone to any effective psychodynamic therapy. Click the pdf on the homepage or the 'G.T.A.' image below to learn about 'the meaning of anxiety'
