I work from a psychodynamic perspective, which means that I believe that symptoms and life difficulties can stem from beliefs, feelings and needs about which a person may not be fully aware. These unconscious influences can become impediments to growth. One goal of therapy is to explore the way in which these factors may be impacting one’s life. Psychodynamic therapists also believe that many of the behaviors and emotions that are causing difficulty today once served an adaptive purpose in a person’s life. As such, another goal of therapy is to examine the role that these behaviors and emotions originally played in order to help the person relinquish these no-longer needed behaviors and develop the courage to try new ones.

A strong therapeutic relationship plays an important role in psychodynamic therapy. A therapist’s empathy allows him or her to see things from the client’s perspective. A safe environment permits the exploration that is needed and provides a safe environment in which the client can explore new ways of being.

Depending on the needs of the client, I offer short-term or longer-term therapy. Short-term therapy is usually aimed at symptom relief or situational issues and can be helpful in cases of depression, anxiety, stress management and life transitions. Longer-term therapy usually addresses more long-standing issues. These include the after-effects of trauma, including child abuse and neglect, PTSD, long-standing depression and difficulties relating to others. Psychodynamic therapy can lead to changes in self-esteem, more resilience to stress, and an increased sense of agency in one’s life.