Adult Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
The central focus in psychodynamic psychotherapy is understanding unconscious thoughts and feelings that contribute to mood states and problems in living. Relational therapy is based on a particular set of theories that emphasize the impact of early and current relationships on individual’s sense of self. The here and now interactions between patient and therapist helps one to understand and change problematic relational patterns, as well as improve mood and self-esteem while reducing symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.
Psychoanalysis
The American Psychoanalytic Association defines psychoanalysis as follows:
Psychoanalysis is a comprehensive theory about human nature, motivation, behavior, development, and experience. And it is a method of treatment for psychological problems and difficulties in successful living.
Psychoanalysis is recommended when problems significantly interfere with important aspects of a person’s life. Often people seek out other methods to help them through crisis or struggles such as speaking with friends or family, using self-help books, or other methods that might superficially address their problems. They might even seek out other modalities and short-term psychotherapy to solve a crisis. The crisis that brings one into psychotherapy might resolve but the unconscious feelings and experiences that led to crisis remain and repeatedly emerge in various forms. Psychoanalysis is more intensive than psychotherapy as it consists of a commitment to meet multiple times per week. Psychoanalysis increases the likelihood of undergoing lasting changes that resolve long standing problems related to self-confidence, relationships, sexual and other aspects of identity, and over all well-being.
Psychoanalytic ideas emphasize the uniqueness of human experience, unconscious thoughts and feelings, and helps one understand how the past shapes the present. The psychoanalytic frame provides a supportive space for people to explore their inner life as well as parts of self and experience that are often painful and have remained hidden. Through an intimate relationship with the psychoanalyst and free associating-speaking to whatever is going through one’s mind-people find they come to a more expansive understanding of their internal and external lives leading to improvements in quality of life and satisfaction.
For more information about psychoanalysis visit the American Psychoanalytic Association website at: