In psychodynamic therapy we look at the influence of the unconscious, of patterns, emotions and thoughts we are not aware of. I draw on psychoanalytical and analytical psychology frameworks.
Some problems that are emotional in origin persist in spite of our best efforts to “snap out” of a mood. We may find ourselves repeating the same ineffectual pattern in relationships, over and over again, in spite of our resolve to do things differently the next time. No matter how much we have accomplished or how cheerful we seem, deep inside we may still feel insignificant and think poorly of ourselves. We may feel “stuck” in our life. Some problems do not go away, at times because of feelings stirred up from the past that we may or may not be aware of, or because of other processes going on inside us that take place beyond our awareness. Sometimes we’ve developed ways of coping and of being in the world that were compromises that helped us adapt in the past but now get in the way of living.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy (which is often equated with psychoanalytical psychotherapy) is a joint process of exploring what goes on inside you, sometimes without your awareness, and how it affects you. This exploration proceeds as you talk about your thoughts, feelings, body experiences, wishes, memories, and dreams, and also about what may be going on in the relationship between the two of us. In doing so, we bring to awareness the processes (also known as dynamics) that influence your everyday feelings, behaviors, and thoughts.
Psychodynamic and psychoanalytical psychotherapy are about emotional experiencing, self-understanding and healing that allows us to cope more effectively and to live more fully.
My role as a therapist is to provide a space where such an exploration can take place. You talk about what comes to mind. I offer my thoughts and comments. I point out connections and patterns that I notice, and offer them to you for your consideration.
