Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is an evidence-based talk therapy that focuses on exploring meaning behind emotions, thought processes, and interpersonal experiences. Patients learn to put into words their unspoken impressions, thoughts and emotions. As therapy progresses, patients begin to understand, at a deeper, emotional level, why they do what they do, think what they think, and feel what they feel. Over the course of therapy, patients develop greater self-knowledge and experience a more stable sense of self.

How is psychodynamic psychotherapy different from other therapies?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy has ~1500 scientific papers that support its efficacy. It has several key aspects that make it different from other therapies.

• It focuses on discussing and exploring emotions, especially emotions that feel challenging or seem contradictory.
• It helps patients identify recurrent themes and patterns in their thoughts, feelings, relationships, and life experiences.
• It explores a patient’s past experiences and examines possible connections between the past and present.
• It looks closely at events in interpersonal relationships to better shed light on a patient’s attachment pattern and the patient’s self-concept.
• It encourages patients to share their wishes, dreams, imaginings, and daydreams to better understand parts of the mind that may be hidden.

Through this work, patients can achieve profound and lasting psychological health. Outcomes include:

• Reduction of symptoms of anxiety, panic, depression, and other mental health symptoms
• Improved self-expression and ability to appreciate other aspects and perspectives
• Improved self-assertion and better management of emotions in difficult social situations
• Greater resilience with negative feedback or emotionally challenging experiences
• Better perspective and acceptance of painful experiences from the past
• Greater psychological insight and understanding of themselves and others
• Greater empathy and responsiveness to others’ feelings and needs
• Greater capacity for creativity, humor and contentment in life
• Greater capacity to take on challenges and feel productive
• Greater capacity for meaningful and loving relationships with emotional intimacy and caring
• Greater capacity for long-lasting friendships characterized by mutual support and trust
• Greater capacity for belonging and contributing to a larger community
• Greater conscientiousness and a grounded sense of one’s ethical values

Psychodynamic psychotherapy can help patients embrace the life they have while creating the meaningful life they want.

Contact Dr. Kleinman today to begin your journey with psychodynamic psychotherapy.