My psychodynamic approach:
What to expect…and why?
Psychodynamic therapy is an empirically-supported treatment—rooted both in the exploration of your mind, and in the evolving and deepening relationship between the two of us—who share the goal of your desired psychological change.
Our aim, beyond minimizing your current distress, is making our way toward expansive, fulfilling, and lasting change in your life for the better.
While we consider the ways in which the past might be important, we are most importantly anchored in the here-and-now.
Why the emphasis on our relationship? Therapy is a window into your life, where relevant themes and patterns are sure to emerge. This almost always includes—in some way, shape, or form—interpersonal ones. Addressing them together “in real time” enhances our capacity to change them.
This will not involve skills, tools, or advice. There’s no one-size-fits-all, no manual. I can’t guess nor construct your best path forward; this is unique to your personal goals, desires, needs, and values. But we’ll work together to actualize it.
Many people who come to see me have already tried Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), or Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Maybe these were helpful up to a certain point, but then plateaued—or maybe they didn’t move the dial. In my mind, this is an indicator that a psychodynamic approach could be more worthwhile.
This will involve my open-minded and nonjudgemental listening, my active curiosity, my effort to make thoughtful observations and useful connecting-of-dots, my empathetic challenging of patterns that might contribute to your distress, my dedicated respect, and my optimism about your potential.
Importantly, a key feature of this process is the explicit and ongoing consideration of whether or not it feels right for you. It’s my job to do my best to meet you where you are.
Consider the following “10 Vital Signs of Mental Health” as examples of what can be achieved:
Adapted from Nancy McWilliams, PhD, ABPN, https://nancymcwilliams.com/
1. Greater attachment (relational) security
2. Increased sense of personal agency
3. More integrated and coherent experience of self and others
4. Self-esteem that is realistic and reliable
5. Increased emotional regulation and resilience
6. Ability to reflect on and understand the inner experience of self and others
7. Greater ease in working interdependently (both being alone and being with others)
8. Increased presence, vitality, and capacity to play (to engage in what interests you and brings you joy)
9. More capacity for forgiveness, gratitude, and acceptance
10. Adaptive and flexible defensives (effective ways of coping with hardship)
For more, here’s a jargon-free reading:
“That Was Then, This Is Now: Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for the Rest of Us”
Written by Jonathan Shedler, PhD, https://jonathanshedler.com/