What Is Psychodynamic Therapy? 

Whether we recognize it or not, we all have had experiences in the past that left us with unhealed emotional hurts, fears, and vulnerabilities. These experiences can deeply impact our ability to trust others and feel safe in our own shoes.

Psychodynamic Therapy is a form of counseling that plumbs the depths of our experience so that we can better understand how the past informs the present. This unique approach seeks to help us put words to our inner experiences and psychological wounds. It teaches us to verbalize the emotional landscape within, helping us identify our emotions and connect them with our experience of the outside world.

Put another way, the goal of Psychodynamic Therapy is to help us step outside of ourselves—to zoom out and look at our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a bird’s eye view. In order to do so, we have to dig deep and explore the parts of ourselves that lie beneath the surface of conscious awareness. This can be done by exploring dreams, symbols, and other elements of the unconscious. 

Once we understand how unconscious patterns control our conscious, waking lives, we are one step closer to freedom from the habits that no longer serve us.

How Effective Is Psychodynamic Therapy?

There is a growing body of research that backs up the restorative power of Psychodynamic Therapy. According to a study done by Jonathan Shedler, PhD, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, which went on to establish psychodynamic therapy as an evidence-based treatment:                          

“Finally, the evidence indicates that the benefits of psychodynamic treatment are lasting and not just transitory and appear to extend well beyond symptom remission. For many people, psychodynamic therapy may foster inner resources and capacities that allow richer, freer and more fulfilling lives.”* (*Shedler, Jonathan. University of Colorado School of Medicine, "The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy" February - March 2010, American Psychologist pg. 107)

In other words, there are numerous practical benefits to Psychodynamic Therapy, even though the approach is more insight-based than skills-based. By engaging in deep exploration and addressing the root causes of mental health issues, Psychodynamic Therapy allows clients to deepen their self-knowledge in a way that can radically shift their relationships, sense of self, and every area of their lives.

Who Can Psychodynamic Therapy Help? 

Virtually anyone can benefit from Psychodynamic Therapy. At my practice, I utilize this unique approach to help people suffering from:

• Anxiety and depression

• Grief and loss

• Loneliness and lack of belonging

• Toxic or unfulfilling relationships 

• Childhood trauma and PTSD

Most commonly, Psychodynamic Therapy is used to help people work through unresolved childhood traumas. While many of us may not think of ourselves as trauma survivors, the truth is that most of us carry traumas from our childhood in one form or another. For example, if we had clinically depressed parents who weren’t able to attend to our emotional needs when we were children, that can leave us with lasting emotional scars. 

Psychodynamic Therapy addresses these subtle exchanges between caregiver and child that take place during the critical first years of life. It explores the gaps in our development, the needs that have never been met, and the wounds that have never been healed. In so doing, it allows us to break longstanding patterns that are rooted in trauma and achieve a future that’s free from the pain of the past. 

How Does Psychodynamic Therapy Work?

The treatment process for Psychodynamic Therapy is generally open-ended and varies depending on your needs and goals. In general, I like to start by asking questions that invite you to reflect deeply about your life. We’ll explore dreams, memories, and motifs in an effort to unlock a process of inner exploration.

The foundation of my practice is rooted in depth psychology and psychoanalytic psychotherapy, both of which seek to explore the unconscious regions of the mind. Sigmund Freud wrote that the “interpretation of dreams is the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind.” Indeed, dreams are manifestations of unconscious desires and long-repressed fears. Drawing from depth psychology, you and I will use dreams—as well as memories and symbols—as a jumping-off point for diving deep into the unconscious patterns governing your life.

Additionally, I often bring in elements of Psycho-Drama, Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), and Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). Each of these evidence-based treatments also fits within the larger umbrella of Psychodynamic Theory because they are all concerned with looking deeper inside to understand how the past informs current behavior. 

Ultimately, my encouragement to you as you begin psychodynamic therapy is to let your own inner compass be your guide. I will offer thoughts, suggestions, and reflective questions to help you make sense of what’s going on and determine where you want to go next. Answers and new discoveries will arise in time, as you journey deeper into places beyond the reach of your conscious, waking mind.

How Can Psychodynamic Therapy Benefit Your Life?

If you are naturally curious and reflective in nature, then a psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy may be perfect for you. Getting to the bottom of the “why” behind your struggles can be both enlightening and liberating. For many of my clients, reaching the why can feel like an “aha” moment leading to significant shifts in their understanding, opening up a journey of self-discovery that continues throughout the rest of their lives. 

This unique, introspective approach to therapy can ultimately help you:

• Develop a stronger sense of self and live a more authentic life

• Increase your self-awareness and identify negative patterns with ease

• Gain new perceptions of yourself, your loved ones, and the world around you

• Realize that your emotions serve a purpose and listen to them with compassion

• Develop more empathy in difficult relationships 

Naturally, instilling this process of change isn’t easy, but it is always rewarding. Some new discoveries may be painful to face at first, but when you’re willing to sit with the pain and give it time, attention, and a place to be heard, it lessens the pain’s weight and volume. As other difficult emotional challenges are addressed, healing occurs and awakening takes place.

My Experience As A Psychodynamic Therapist And Depth Psychologist 

As a psychologist, I have been practicing Psychodynamic Therapy since 2002 and it continues to work marvels in the lives of my clients. I received my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute with an emphasis in Depth Psychology, and I was also certified in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy through the Psychoanalytic Center of California. I regularly receive consultation from different psycho-analysts who help me continue learning and practicing within the model. After all, there is always more to learn.

While at the Pacifica Graduate Institute, I worked with a wonderful therapist who was trained in psychoanalysis and psychodrama. She taught me how to appreciate the hard work that comes with facing old hurts and fears as well as the healing that takes place through self-understanding. As a result, I have a connection with myself that gives me the reassurance and confidence to live a life that is more fulfilling than ever.

Experience The Life-Changing Wisdom Of A Psychodynamic Approach 

If you want to change and grow, you can. Your desire to address the difficult parts of your life gives you the power to change, and as your psychodynamic therapist, it’s my goal to help you tap into that power. If you want to get in touch with me and initiate your healing journey today, I encourage you to fill out the contact form. I look forward to partnering with you on your path toward transformation! 

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