Psychodynamic Therapy

What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy helps you understand how past experiences, relationships, and unconscious patterns influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors today. By increasing self-awareness, psychodynamic therapy can help create lasting change, improve relationships, and reduce emotional distress.

How Does Psychodynamic Therapy Work?

Psychodynamic therapy explores recurring patterns in your life, including relationships, emotions, self-esteem, and coping strategies. Together, we look beyond symptoms to better understand the underlying causes of anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and other concerns.

Rather than focusing only on immediate problems, psychodynamic therapy helps you gain insight into why certain patterns continue to show up and how to create healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.

What Can Psychodynamic Therapy Help With?

Psychodynamic therapy can be effective for:

• Anxiety

• Anger

• Relationship issues

• Attachment trauma

• Avoidant attachment

• Anxious attachment

• Low self-esteem

• Life transitions

• Grief and loss

• Childhood wounds

• Trauma

• People-pleasing

• Perfectionism

• Family conflict

• Identity and self-discovery

• Sexual behaviors and trauma

What Are the Benefits of Psychodynamic Therapy?

Many clients seek psychodynamic therapy because they want more than symptom relief. Benefits may include:

• Greater self-awareness

• Healthier relationships

• Improved emotional regulation

• Stronger boundaries

• Increased self-confidence

• Insight into recurring patterns

• Long-term personal growth

Is Psychodynamic Therapy Right for Me?

Psychodynamic therapy may be a good fit if you find yourself asking:

• Why do I keep repeating the same relationship patterns?

• Why do I struggle with self-worth?

• Why do I react so strongly in certain situations?

• Why do I feel stuck despite understanding my problems intellectually?

Psychodynamic therapy can help uncover the deeper emotional experiences that shape your current life and relationships.

Psychodynamic Therapy in Arlington, Fredericksburg, and Throughout Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland

I provide therapy for clients in:

• Arlington, VA

• Alexandria, VA

• Fairfax, VA

• McLean, VA

• Falls Church, VA

• Reston, VA

• Vienna, VA

• Fredericksburg, VA

• Richmond, VA

• Washington, DC

• Bethesda, MD

• Rockville, MD

• Silver Spring, MD

• Throughout Virginia, Maryland and DC via telehealth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is psychodynamic therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is a form of therapy that explores how unconscious patterns, past experiences, and relationships affect your current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Since I am very direct, there is a lot of rapport building and direction as well.

Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?

Yes. Research has shown that psychodynamic therapy can be effective for a wide range of mental health concerns, with benefits that often continue after therapy ends.

How is psychodynamic therapy different from CBT?

While CBT focuses on changing current thoughts and behaviors, psychodynamic therapy explores the deeper emotional and relational patterns that contribute to ongoing struggles.

Do I have to talk about my childhood?

Not necessarily. However, understanding past experiences can sometimes provide valuable insight into current challenges and relationship patterns.

Do you use psychodynamic therapy?

Yes. Psychodynamic therapy is the primary approach I use to help clients gain insight, foster emotional growth, and create meaningful, lasting change.