Psychodynamic Therapy Techniques

While the origins of psychodynamic therapy lie in the psychoanalytic tradition started by Sigmund Freud, it has been refined by many subsequent thinkers into a diverse set of theoretical models. The tradition of psychodynamic therapy emphasizes the mental processes which underlie subjective experience and behavior, the mechanisms in the unconscious mind which play a powerful role in shaping our thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

The primary technique of psychodynamic therapy is interpretation, where we explore aspects of experience that are not fully understood. Interpretation is concerned with defenses (distorted patterns in our mental states), conflict (wishes, affects, and ideas that contradict one another), and complex meaning (constructions of experience with concealed significance). As we access things that were previously outside of our conscious experience, we gain insight. This increased awareness provides us with the capacity to better manage the pressures we face in life.

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Psychodynamic Therapy Goals

The primary goal of psychodynamic therapy techniques is to bring what was previously unconscious into conscious awareness in an experience we call insight. Insight can involve an awareness of motivations, meanings, or feelings that were previously kept out of conscious awareness. Insight allows us to understand ourselves, free ourselves from past experience and live in the present, be more flexible in our relationships, have a more secure and stable sense of self, and generally feel better in our lives and more resilient to the challenges we face. There is a large body of evidence demonstrating that psychodynamic psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment.

Psychodynamic Therapy in Los Angeles

Psychodynamic therapy is an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, panic, relationship issues, personality issues, and many other major mental health conditions.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving West Los Angeles, including the neighborhoods of Playa Vista, Mar Vista, Venice, and Culver City. Westside residents can find my office located in Playa Vista, where I conduct in-person sessions. I also offer teletherapy sessions for anyone located in the state of California. Contact me today to set up a consultation.

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