Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic or insight-oriented therapy has its origins with Sigmund Freud. Yet it shouldn't be mistaken for psychoanalysis. I won't be asking you to come in for sessions four to five times a week, lie on the couch and speak freely about whatever comes into your mind. Psychodynamic therapy, as its name implies, is much more dynamic, meaning both of us will take a decidedly active role in therapy. Striving to get at the root of the issues and conflicts causing you distress, we will likely examine your relationships with your mother, father and other significant people in your life. If you'd like we will also explore, like Carl Jung, your dreams, in an effort to get at the root of your subconscious fears and wishes. We will strive to understand and work through the defenses that interfere with your efforts to be your authentic self.

An underlying assumption is that different parts of the mind being in constant struggle leads to anxiety and depression, thus psychodynamic therapy is effective for a wide range of conditions including depression, anxiety, panic and stress-related physical conditions. According to research, the benefits of such therapy continue to grow even after treatment has ended.

Psychodynamic theory shares the underlying assumption with Buddhist thought that all manners of things have origins and thus suffering has an origin which can ultimately be found in the mind. The mind, as it is influenced and disturbed by negative emotions such as anger, jealousy naïveté, anxiety and so forth can be freed from such suffering, according to Buddhist philosophy, mainly by self-awareness achieved through meditation. Psychodynamic theory also asserts that all behavior and thus emotion is determined, meaning it has its origins from an earlier time. Such problematic behaviors and emotions, according to the psychodynamic perspective, can be released through intense examination in therapy. The focus on subconscious processes, motives, and memories rooted in your childhood experiences is an effective way to get to one's core inner conflicts which ultimately get expressed in our relationships. Such insight-oriented therapy will help you come into greater contact with yourself through examining thoughts and feelings that likely are not readily visible to you. These psychological blind spots are probably interfering with your ability to have more healthy relationships and a more satisfying life.

So, if you're frustrated with repeated disappointing patterns in your behavior and relationships, suffer from loneliness and discouragement, have fears of emotional intimacy or have difficulty with trusting others and if you have the capacity for self-reflection, curiosity about your internal life and are willing to tolerate vulnerable and painful feelings and even, sometimes, see the humor in your life, then you may be a good candidate for insight-oriented therapy.