Options of Therapy
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. The kind of support that is right for you depends on what you are looking for, whether it is lasting change, deeper understanding, or help navigating a specific relationship or challenge.
In my practice, I offer several forms of talk therapy, each grounded in depth-oriented, psychodynamic principles. This means we will look beyond surface-level symptoms to better understand the emotional patterns, relational dynamics, and lived experiences that may be shaping your present. The goal is not just insight, but a real, lasting change.
Psychotherapy is a couple of times a week therapy which helps you make sense of patterns that keep showing up in your life—whether in relationships, emotions, or reactions you do not fully understand. My approach is rooted in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which offers practical support and thoughtful reflection, helping you understand the “why” behind your struggles so you can respond to life in new and more satisfying ways.
Psychoanalysis is a longer-term and 3-5 times a week therapy that explores unconscious patterns, early experiences, and how they continue to shape your life today. My approach is based on contemporary theories emphasizing a collaborative, emotionally attuned, and relational process, that supports deep exploration. Psychoanalysis helps you work through longstanding struggles and fosters lasting personal transformation.
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While both approaches share the same foundation, they differ in a few key areas:
Structure and Setting: Psychodynamic psychotherapy usually involves weekly, face-to-face sessions. Psychoanalysis is more frequent, typically three to five times per week, and may involve lying on a couch to support reflection and openness.
The Therapist’s Role: In both approaches, the relationship with your therapist is a key element in the work. In psychodynamic psychotherapy, the relationship provides support and insight as you explore your emotions and experiences, but the focus is usually on understanding patterns in your life and how they might affect your relationships. In psychoanalysis, the therapeutic relationship itself becomes a crucial part of the process. The more intensive structure of analysis creates an environment where deeper emotional dynamics, including patterns of relating to others, can emerge in the therapy itself. For instance, feelings of dependency, frustration, or idealization toward the therapist may come up more frequently in analysis, offering an opportunity to explore these patterns directly. In addition to relational dynamics, psychoanalysis can also help address other emotional concerns, such as anxiety or fear, allowing you to gain deeper insight into these challenges and shift longstanding emotional responses.
Duration: Psychodynamic psychotherapy is typically a shorter-term process, lasting from several months to a few years, depending on your needs. It is a more focused and flexible process with clear goals. Psychoanalysis, on the other hand, tends to be a longer-term commitment, often lasting multiple years, as it involves a more in-depth exploration of the unconscious.
Techniques: Psychodynamic psychotherapy uses broad exploration and conversational techniques, which focus on understanding the emotional dynamics at play in your life and relationships. In psychoanalysis, the techniques are deeper and more intensive. These might include free association (where you speak freely about your thoughts without censorship) and dream analysis, which help uncover unconscious material and patterns that may influence your behavior and emotions.
Issues Addressed: Psychodynamic psychotherapy is well-suited to a wide range of concerns, such as relationship challenges, low self-esteem, or periods of emotional difficulty. Psychoanalysis may be a better fit for those interested in in-depth exploration, longstanding emotional patterns, or a deeper understanding of the self. [Read about the differences →]
If you are feeling uncertain about which approach might be right for you, or if you simply want to learn more about how therapy can help, I am here to support you. I offer a free 20-minute consultation where we can talk through your concerns, explore your options, and discuss how we can work together to meet your goals.
Couples Therapy helps partners navigating conflict, disconnection, or major life transitions. I draw on psychodynamic principles to help you understand patterns in your relationship, improve communication, and rebuild emotional closeness. Whether you are stuck in painful cycles or feeling distant from one another, couples therapy can help you reconnect and move forward with more clarity and care.
