Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy explores underlying emotional issues that may impact mental health. It aims to foster understanding and awareness of root causes, leading to insight and lasting change. By exploring unconscious thoughts and feelings, it helps individuals develop self-awareness, self-esteem, and a path towards growth and healing.

Many of the clinicians use a psychodynamic and attachment focused lens. While behavioral therapy is helpful (and we do integrate that into treatment), our therapists also help make sense out of our clients' worlds with the idea that early experiences inform and shape how we move through life today. That way, we can process through what's contributing to our symptoms and fueling them to help make meaningful and lasting changes.

The roles we play in life now can be connected to our our roles, values and beliefs we learned when we were younger. My role is to help illuminate your emotions and unhealthy patterns of behavior that would provide you with the keys to unlocking the root of your concerns. By having a deeper understanding of your internal world, we will help you to make decisions that would lead to a more successful life.

If you're feeling stuck in patterns that repeat themselves, want to find a greater sense of understanding so that you can make choices you're more satisfied with in life, and make meaning of it all, psychodynamic therapy could be a good fit for you. What most people think of when they say "therapy," psychodynamic therapy is basically an open, non-judgmental conversation with a therapist who can help guide you on your journey of building insight and improving your life's circumstances.

Psychodynamic therapy can help you learn to spot patterns in your feelings, behavior, and relationships and become aware of aspects of yourself that you may not have understood before. Once you have more insight and awareness into connections between past and present, you can work toward resolving repressed emotions and changing your behavior in the present.

I was trained in psychodynamic practice as a student at LMU and intern at Airport Marina Counseling Service. I enjoy integrating the depth-oriented work of psychodynamic theory with art therapy, allowing the subconscious mind to come forward in each session. Through psychodynamic interventions, I can assist you to reveal deep-seated sources of anxiety, blocks around fulfilling your base needs and instincts, and issues with sexual drive. This work often results in a stronger sense of self.

What's underneath the iceberg?

Gaining insight about childhood, can help one gain insight about current problems to create meaningful change. We practice interventions that aim to improve reflective capacity, managing emotions, judgment, impulse control, problem solving, decision making, organizing, empathy, reading social cues, self-perception, self-esteem regulation, and/or self-image. Learning the skills to improve functioning while working towards lasting change.

At its core, my graduate program is centered around psychodynamic therapy. We have spent a great deal of time exploring its theories and how to best apply them in the counseling setting.

Using a psychodynamic approach helps clients make connections between past experiences, family history, and present behavior. Sometimes understanding our inner-workings can help us understand our deepest needs.

I will help you explore the depths of your emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Rooted in the belief that our past experiences and unconscious processes shape our present behaviors and feelings, psychodynamic therapy offers a powerful means of self-discovery and personal growth. We will work to uncover unconscious patterns, unresolved conflicts, and past traumas that may be influencing your current challenges and emotional struggles.

My approach to treatment is mostly influenced by psychodynamic theory and a specific kind of psychodynamic theory in particular, Mentalization-based Treatment (MBT). Broadly, this means that we will work together to understand the current difficulties that you're experiencing in terms of internal, mental processes. By putting our minds together to better understand what's going on on the inside, you'll experience more flexibility and more agency in your life outside of therapy.

I make use of psychodynamic therapy interventions to deep dive into clients' pasts and experiences and help form understanding and insight about current feelings, behaviors, and patterns. This can be used to increase self awareness and growth, as well as instigate behavioral change over time.

My psychotherapy work is grounded in psychodynamic theory, which means that I attune to and examine unconscious thought patterns. I also work relationally, meaning that we will pay close attention to what arises between us in the therapy room. Deepening your awareness of the forces that shape your internal and external world will help you make meaning of your past experiences and live more consciously and intentionally.

My primary training backgrounds are CBT and Psychodynamic counseling. I integrate these approaches to offer both stabilization and exploration of root causes for my clients. Additionally, I stay up-to-date with the latest research and theoretical orientations to offer each client an individual approach to counseling based on their needs.