In psychodynamic psychotherapy, we aim to bring the unconscious conflicts that keep us feeling stuck or powerless into awareness so that we can work toward change. Our personality development is shaped by our early experiences with caregivers and by challenges at various developmental life stages. From those experiences, we learn models of dynamics in relationships regarding themes of love, security, self-esteem, vulnerability, trust, and boundaries among other concepts. We tend to repeat these dynamics in our present relationships, including unhealthy or painful patterns. You might find yourself confused or curious about why you have particular conflicts in relationships or find yourself feeling dis-empowered.
In this treatment, we will take significant time to explore your present conflicts and distress. I will encourage you to speak openly and as authentically as possible, and challenge you to observe yourself from a new perspective. We will interpret together how early patterns in relationships of your past connect thematically to current problems to get to the core conflict. I will also encourage you to reflect on how your concepts of yourself, of others, and of your early familial experiences relate to each other. Through gaining this insight and increased self-awareness, you will feel more in control of your sense of self and interactions in relationships. Our hope is that you complete therapy feeling a sense of empowerment to find balance within yourself and in relation to others.
