Zoë Kahn LCSW

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a somatic psychotherapy designed to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. EMDRIA.com provides an excellent explanation of the benefits and specifics of this treatment approach. I am EMDR certified and continue to engage in ongoing training and education to strengthen skills.

Psychodynamic Therapy is the psychological interpretation of mental and emotional processes. Rooted in traditional psychoanalysis, it draws from object relations, ego psychology, and self psychology and is a form of depth psychology. Psychodynamic therapy aims to address the foundation and formation of psychological processes. In this way, it seeks to reduce symptoms and improve people’s lives.

Psychodynamic Therapy is the exploration of our past experiences in order to understand our present way of being. This might look like exploring the impact of a traumatic childhood relationship on current desire and ability to initiate and maintain interpersonal relationships as an adult. Often looking into the past can offer us greater understanding of why something matters so much to us or is triggering in our present.

By targeting our limiting beliefs (all the negative thoughts we've built up over time about ourselves), creating self love rituals and practices (actions), and engaging in activities/behaviors that reflect the person we would like to be we can increase self-esteem. The gift of therapy is that we get to tell our story to someone in the hopes that they can hear us and understand so that we may seek to truly understand ourselves and find ongoing self compassion and acceptance of who we are.

Building self esteem and understanding the origin of low self esteem is an essential part of therapy. Through the therapeutic relationship, a co-created relationship that we build together, clients can feel safe in session to practice using their voice, confidently making choices and decisions based on personal values, setting boundaries and learning to trust themselves. Self acceptance is often based in resolving traumas and feeling seen, validated and understood by an empathic therapist.

My foundation for couples work is Emotionally Focused Therapy. Partners identify negative cycles causing conflict while also learning how to be emotionally vulnerable. The therapist facilitates each partner's deeper understanding of their underlying emotions (what's underneath anger, reactivity, defensiveness) and attachment behaviors (pursuing/distancing) creating connection through this deeper awareness of what is happening inside of each partner and between each partner.

Emotionally Focused Therapy is the foundation of my couples work. As humans we are hardwired for secure connection. When we sense disconnection from a partner, we feel our attachment bond being threatened causing us to become defensive or withdrawn to protect ourselves. In EFT, partners identify the negative cycle that keeps them in conflict and causes disconnection. Partners learn to identify and articulate their needs more effectively creating deeper understanding and empathy for one another.