Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is my preferred therapeutic method of treatment, especially for conditions such as depression, grief and loss, panic, phobias, life transitions and anxiety. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a specific, therapeutic method of communication that helps individuals find relief from psychological pain. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on the theories and techniques of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Theory. The idea behind psychodynamic psychotherapy is that the patient is able to bring their true feelings to the surface, so they can understand them, fully experience them, and resolve issues surrounding them.

Based on Psychoanalytic Theory, much of what we belief, think, and feel is experienced unconsciously, sometimes referred to as the subconscious mind. These feelings are too difficult or painful to face directly, so at a very early age, a number of defense mechanisms are erected so that we do not have do deal with these issues and feelings directly. A few of these defense mechanisms are denial, repression, intellectualization, and projection. Sometimes defense mechanisms can be healthy, but if there is impairment in a person’s work or personal life, quite often these defense mechanisms are causing problems that need to be addressed. The idea is that once you begin to unravel things and working them through, they are less painful and a person can be more contented.