Therapy

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

“I can’t believe I’m lying on a couch… I thought this only happened in movies!”

Yes, psychodynamic psychotherapy is the treatment of the movies.  Lay on the couch and say what comes to mind.  My patients have variably followed this instruction at the first session with humor, bemusement, interest, and trepidation.  It can be scary to explore your unconscious.  But it can be oh-so-satisfying and interesting as well.

If you’ve ever found yourself repeating the same behaviors and patterns without knowing why; feeling sad when you know you should be happy; on the brink of making a life change and scared that it’s not right – then psychodynamic psychotherapy may be for you. 

This is a treatment designed to explore your unconscious, which are the thoughts and feelings that operate below your awareness.  Have you ever had a big emotional shock, moved on immediately, only to burst into tears later that day at something unrelated?  That’s your unconscious, which is relating what you’re doing now to what you felt earlier.  Have you ever thought that your boss or your friend was upset with you, only to realize that they had something else on their mind that had nothing to do with you?  That’s your unconscious again – seeing your past relationships and interactions in the present, even though it’s a different person and a different situation.  Have you ever found yourself ending up in the same kind of romantic relationship with the same kind of partner, which always ends in heartache?  It’s your unconscious yet again – recreating and repeating a past hurt with a new person in an effort to repair the hurt; but unfortunately, the hurt just keeps repeating itself without ever repairing.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy provides a space for you to see these unconscious thoughts, feelings and patterns play out in real time.  Seeing something is the first step to changing it.  Psychodynamic psychotherapy also helps you to create the tools to ­really change – to not just act differently, but to feel differently.  It can be difficult, but it can also be exciting, humbling, comforting and life-changing. 

If you are interested in embarking on this journey (or at least learning more!), schedule a free 15-minute consultation today!