Approach

My approach to treatment falls within the psychodynamic orientation. The overall goal of the psychodynamic approach is to make clients feel more integrated—more whole. I view myself as your partner in a leg of your journey in which perhaps you're spinning in circles, or feel trapped, confused, hurt, or unable to break free and reach your potential.

This means that in therapy we explore your current difficulties in order to gain understanding of what is happening and to promote awareness and relief. If long-standing patterns of difficulties become evident, we may also work towards deepening our understanding of how these may have originated. This deep emotional and intellectual awareness can provide you with a sense of empowerment and can help decrease sadness and nervousness. It can also lead to long-lasting relief.

As explained by a wise supervisor I had: 

Sometimes someone comes into therapy saying, "Doctor, I fell into a rosebush and it hurts!" And the task of treatment is to heal those wounds. Other times, a person says, "Doctor, I keep falling in rosebushes and I don’t know why." Our task in these cases is to help the person figure out what is compelling their behavior, even when they are aware of the pain it repeatedly causes, in order to interrupt the cycle.

In addition, within this psychodynamic orientation, every person is regarded as unique—while also influenced by a larger culture and the sub-groups with which that person may identify. In other words, you are not a collection of problems or symptoms. Rather, you are a complex and unique individual and you will not be “talked at by an ‘expert’,” but rather, you will be heard. This also means that in therapy with me you will generate your goals for the therapy and together we will figure out how to achieve them.

Apart from talking about what happens outside of therapy, at times we may focus also on our interaction as another way of communication between us. This focus provides profound and valuable insight into things that we may never have verbalized before but that may actually be exerting a powerful influence on behavior.

In a safe and cooperative environment, we will be able to observe "live" what things may have stood in your way, and gain understanding in a very unique and interactive way. As your self-understanding deepens, you can use it to make different choices and feel more in control of your life. From there, solutions become more apparent and possible.

As a therapist I aim to communicate using a mix of respect, humor, and care. There’s already enough judgment out there, don’t you think?