Psychodynamic Therapy

Music psychotherapy utilizes concepts from Jungian theory as well as attachment and client centered approaches. What is underneath your behavior patterns? What keep cropping up despite your very smart intellectual understanding of your past? "We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses." Carl Jung

I was trained in Psychodynamic Therapy and emphasized in it for my doctoral degree. I went on to write my dissertation through the psychodynamic lens. I have practiced this modality for the last 15 years and also get to teach the Psychodynamic Therapy course to grad students!

As our work deepens, I shift into noticing more unconscious behaviors, patterns, and dynamics. I stay curious about your past as it informs your present life. I refer to the works of Carl Jung to help inform different ways of viewing and being with feelings as well as how relational interactions impact us. I integrate an engagement with feelings that come up between you and me as we continue our work together to build a trust in our relationship.

Psychodynamic therapy is a type of talk therapy that explores how people's current lives are affected by past experiences, unconscious beliefs and fantasies, and "unacceptable" feelings and thoughts. The analyst helps clients talk about all of these things by creating a non-judgmental space and helping people see that any thoughts and feelings are tolerable and acceptable and can be separated from our actions that impact our success in relationship with others and ourselves.

The relationship between the therapist is important for change and I utilize this therapy with every client I work with.

Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes as they are manifested in the client’s present behavior. These unconscious processes can often drive maladaptive behavior and psychodynamic therapy aims to help the person discover unconscious thoughts and motivators so that they can change their behaviors. In psychodynamic therapy, this is done by increasing a person’s self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on present behavior.

Primary training while studying at Columbia University was in psychodynamic techniques.

Learn about your behaviors and beliefs and recognize how all behaviors are responses to how you were taught to see yourself and the world at a young age. Recognize how you were nurtured (or not) as a child and how to practice self-compassion and change.

I believe that life experiences and the meaning that we both consciously and unconsciously assign to them can be explored in therapy to help clients live a life that is intentional and grounded. This includes identification and exploration of attachment styles, childhood and adolescent experiences, dreams, fears, and hopes.

I believe in treating the client as a whole, and considering how their past experiences may impact their present level of functioning and future goals. Insight and understanding of yourself can greatly impact the choices you make, as well as your view of the society in which we live. I hope for you to become the best, "you," that you want to become. Life can be a complicated journey, but surrounding yourself with positive peers and healthy ways of living can help ease the challenging times.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy refers to an approach and theory that assumes that early life experience informs and shapes our current relationships and emotional state. It is loosely related to the theory and practice of psychoanalysis (see below). In psychodynamic therapy, the relationship and interaction with the therapist is seen as a primary mode of effecting positive or developmental change. Therapy tends to involve exploration of both current as well as past experiences, often uncovering aspects of a persons thoughts and emotions that were not fully realized or understood. It is through this new understanding and emotional exploration that negative or stuck states of mind and/or relationships are healed, resolved or developed.

Graduated with a concentration in psychodynamic psychology

I was trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the University of Chicago. Psychodynamic therapy, combined with other approaches, such as energy therapy techniques can be very effective in treating a number of conditions. That said, I don't get stuck on one or two approaches. That would be like a medical doctor who only prescibes penicillin. A good therapist needs a lot of tools in his or her toolbox.

Psychodynamic therapy helps you uncover how your past experiences and unconscious thoughts affect your present life. By understanding these deep connections, you can gain insight and find relief from emotional challenges. It's a great choice if you're looking to explore and heal the root causes of your feelings and behaviors.