Beyond the Surface: Understanding Psychodynamic Therapy

If you’ve ever wondered why you keep ending up in the same difficult situations, why certain relationships feel painfully familiar, or why you react in ways that surprise even yourself— you’re already asking the kinds of questions that psychodynamic therapy is designed to explore.

What Makes This Approach Different

My specialty isn’t defined by the specific issues I treat—it’s how I work with clients: through an integrative psychodynamic approach that incorporates interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, existential, and humanistic modalities.

In our work together, we’ll explore the deeper patterns that shape your life—your defense mechanisms, identity, and internal conflicts. We’ll work with transference and parallel process, examining how similar patterns emerge both in therapy and in your real life, including reenactments that can become repeating and sometimes toxic. We’ll examine power dynamics, explore both unconscious and conscious processes, and understand how developmental experiences and cultural influences have shaped you. We’ll work on navigating your inner and outer world, cultural identity, and resolving conflicts.

I do extensive cognitive restructuring and work with the unconscious defenses that often block health and freedom. I help you strengthen your unique identity, understand and channel your drives, and focus on authenticity. We challenge the common assumption that thoughts necessarily come before feelings. I also use an existential lens—recognizing we’re part of the animal kingdom with natural strivings and aggressions we often reject or don’t recognize.

What makes this work particularly powerful is that we create what psychodynamic theory calls a “third space”—a collaborative environment where we work together to understand what’s happening. This isn’t me sitting silently while you talk and then billing you. I actively guide the process, bringing structure through CBT frameworks when helpful, and drawing on interpersonal therapy to examine the therapeutic relationship itself.

Importantly, I use myself as a tool in the process. I am genuine, authentic, and very much “me”—which may be surprising in contrast to the “expected therapist.” I integrate a humanistic, person-centered approach, asking about your goals and perspective. Empathy, validation, and lack of judgment are central. I go above and beyond by actively formulating— thinking deeply about your case—both during and outside our sessions. Psychoeducation is key: I teach you these psychological concepts so you can use them to support your own mental health.

Who This Work Is For

The clients who benefit most are committed, consistent, motivated, and insight-oriented— meaning you have the capacity for deeper interpretation and understanding. You’re curious, open to exploration, willing to face difficult truths, and flexible in considering new perspectives. Most importantly, you desire not just symptom relief, but genuine self knowing.

This work expects that you’ll increase your active participation over time and eventually take the lead in your own problem solving and symptom management. I teach you how the machine works—application of theory and intervention is my specialty. I expect you to reflect on our sessions, practice skills, and return with insights and observations, showing increased curiosity and engagement.

What brings you to therapy matters less than what you bring to therapy. Your readiness to engage in meaningful work is what counts.

What Changes Can You Expect?

When you commit to this process, the benefits are profound. You’ll develop increased awareness—a central tenet in both psychodynamic and interpersonal work. You’ll understand the patterns running your life and gain freedom from unconsciously repeating old dynamics. You’ll build more authentic relationships and develop a stronger relationship with yourself. You’ll cultivate greater self-cohesion—knowing who you are more fully and feeling more integrated.

You’ll also experience improved self-esteem and confidence, along with increased flexibility and overall skill in navigating life. One powerful shift is moving from aloneness to partnership—you’re truly collaborating with someone actively engaged in understanding your experience.

Most importantly, you’ll move from being driven by unconscious forces to making conscious choices. You’ll understand not just what you struggle with, but why—and that understanding becomes the foundation for real change.

Clearing Up a Common Misconception

Psychodynamic therapy is not a quick fix. This is deep work that takes time. But it’s also not passive or directionless. I actively participate in guiding our process, offering interpretations, creating structure when needed, and working collaboratively toward greater understanding.

When I say “insight-oriented,” I don’t just mean intellectual understanding. I mean the capacity for deeper, sometimes profound interpretations of your experience—emotional insights that create real transformation, not just head knowledge.

The Integration That Makes It Work

The CBT component brings structure and evidence-based skills, helping break down frameworks and track progression. I focus on goals and may occasionally provide optional homework assignments to support the process. Interpersonal therapy increases mindfulness, keeps us process-oriented, and brings a heavy relational focus using the here and now. I sometimes share my personal experience and feelings when it informs the work. All of this happens within the psychodynamic frame, which provides the depth and understanding that creates lasting change.

Is This Approach Right for You?

If you’re ready to move beyond surface solutions and do the real work of understanding yourself—your patterns, relationships, and unconscious drives—this approach might be exactly what you’re looking for. It requires commitment, but the rewards are a life lived with greater awareness, authenticity, and choice.

The question isn’t whether your problems are “serious enough.” The question is: are you ready to engage in deep, meaningful work to truly know yourself?