Answers to common questions about psychodynamic therapy, going deeper, how therapy works, how much it costs, and insurance.
Psychodynamic therapy is type of treatment aimed at helping people become more deeply aware of the unconscious dynamics at the root of the problem. It uniquely emphasizes that the most significant cause of the problems we face are due to patterns and impulses operating outside our conscious awareness. Rather than addressing only our symptoms, psychodynamic therapy addresses matters more holistically by asking how our symptoms fit together into a larger whole. Other types of therapy target interventions around particular symptoms in a piecemeal fashion and emphasize rapid symptom reduction. While these treatments can be effective under certain conditions, they neglect a more comprehensive picture of the person and fail to achieve more permanent change. Other approaches can neglect the deeper personality issues often at play.
“Going deeper” means focussing on the things that are causing your symptoms instead of addressing your symptoms alone. Rather than immediately employing strategies, exercises, or techniques – interventions that are often premature – psychodynamic therapy takes a more custom approach. Therapy involves thoroughly understanding the full context of why you’re struggling, how things got this way, and the things you might be doing that subtly perpetuate your problems in ways you’re not aware of. Going deeper means facing painful truths you might be avoiding, learning to tolerate thoughts and feelings you’ve kept yourself from, and discovering things about yourself you’ve never fully known, understood, or let yourself accept. Working in this way not only brings relief from symptoms, but more substantial change.
The process of therapy is difficult for anyone to predict. The journey towards greater insight, inner healing, and self-awareness is unique to each individual. The process can take anywhere from a few months to several years. People find relief from symptoms happens quite early on, while the more substantial personality shifts happens later down the road. Each person is unique and shifts in individual and unexpected ways. Instead of change that depends on radical new lifestyle choices, meditation practices, or strategic behavior regimens, change from this type of work happens organically. Changes evolve naturally and happen invisibly over the course of the therapy. Often, the way you’re feeling about situations that once upset you gradually begins to shift, little changes in how you react when you’re disappointed subtly begin to emerge, and you think to reach out to a friend to talk instead of obsessing about it in your mind as before. You realize the significant change that’s occurred only when you stop and look back.
I offer sessions both in-person and online. I’m licensed to practice online in California and in over 43 states through PSYPACT.
My fee is $200 for individual therapy and $225 for couples therapy. Please inquire about fees for consultation and supervision.
I’m not in-network with insurance. However, I can provide a special medical receipt you may use to obtain any reimbursement from your insurance upon request.
Specific issues I work with are: anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive difficulties, perfectionism, chronic depression, low self-esteem, lack of purpose, identity disturbances, compulsive behavior, irritability and anger problems, substance abuse, relationship difficulties, and personality difficulties.
If something here resonates, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation.