Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic psychotherapy is an approach to talk therapy underpinned by psychoanalytic theories and principles. At its root, psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an approach to therapy that fosters curiosity about the inner state of the patient, a genuine and present stance in the therapeutic relationship, and an effort to gain understanding about what might be going on underneath the surface of our psychological makeup.


Flexible and individualized

Therapists who practice psychoanalytic psychotherapy don’t follow manualized treatment plans, instead opting to explore the present moment that occurs within each unique therapeutic encounter. This can lead to psychoanalytic psychotherapy feeling more free form, or open ended, which allows the treatment to be flexible and meet the specific needs of the specific patient. 

Insight oriented

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is deeply contemplative, and is focused on gaining insight into the inner registers of our human experience. Often we go through our lives thinking we know who we are and why we are acting the way we act. Psychoanalytic theory posits that we know much less of ourselves than we might think, and that many of our actions, relationships, and emotions are the result of hidden drives that operate outside of our control.


Consistent

Generally psychoanalytic psychotherapy involves meeting consistently with your therapist over an extended period of time, usually with patients meeting with their therapist once or twice weekly for a year or more. Consistency over time allows a genuine therapeutic relationship to develop, and allows for the deepening and patience that is often necessary to plumb the depths of our inner worlds.


Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy looks at the past as well as the present

Psychoanalytic approaches to therapy often look to the past or to our childhoods to understand where our inner drives might be coming from, understanding that our childhoods generally have an outsized effect on our psychological make up throughout the rest of our lives. However, psychoanalytic theory does not exclusively delve into the past, understanding too that what is most important is often what is happening right here in the present moment. There are often clues or insights to be gleaned from the moment to moment unfolding of the present moment in a therapy session. 

Psychoanalytic Therapists engage in ongoing consultation and education

Therapists who practice in a psychoanalytic modality often engage in consultation with peers and supervisors, and ongoing education in reading, writing, and deeply considering the clinical work they engage in. These practices come from the understanding that engaging in successful therapeutic experiences requires lots of care, attention, and often cannot be done in isolation without outside support. It might help you know that your therapist is thinking about you and considering your case in between sessions.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy reflects contemporary thinking

The development of psychoanalytic thinking is an ongoing discourse that has developed over the past 125 years in a community of clinicians and academics. Psychoanalytic thinking has its roots in the late 1800’s thinking and writing of Sigmund Freud, but is constantly developing and changing in the context of contemporary thought.

Some basic tenets of psychoanalytic thought which have been developed and are often generally agreed upon are: 

  • The past, and especially what happened to us as children has a strong, often outsized effect on who we are as adults

  • Insight into how and why we are the way we are helps us become more of ourselves

  • The relationship between therapist and client is an essential component of a successful psychotherapy treatment

  • We accumulate filters or distortions we lay on top of reality throughout our lives which fundamentally shape how we interact with the world around us and our relationships 

  • Gaining insight into those distortions helps us see past them

  • Much of our experience in the worlds is hidden in unconscious thoughts and desires, and making those unconscious thoughts more conscious helps us become more whole and well in our lives. 

Something different

Many people who come to therapy are looking for something different but aren’t sure exactly what it is. Sometimes people are looking for a more individualized approach, after experiencing past therapies that might have felt “robotic” or manualized. Other times people complain of only being allowed to see their therapist every 4 to 6 weeks because of backups with insurance companies. People often talk about not feeling “truly heard” in their therapies, and they are looking for a therapist who will patiently and attentively try to understand their inner lives. For some of these people, a psychoanalytic approach to therapy fills the need that they have been looking for in their approach to therapy.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is evidence based

Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic approaches to psychotherapy are evidence based therapies. There have been many studies outlining the efficacy of psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The evidence is clear that psychoanalytic psychotherapy is effective in treating a variety of psychological problems. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Reach out

If you are curious to explore if this approach to theapy might be right for you, reach out to me at my contact form below or by call me at 831.204.0131, and we can schedule a short consultation call to see if it makes sense for us to try working together.