What is Psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis represents diverse therapeutic approaches unified by interest in working with unconscious material. Similarly, psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a form of Psychodynamic treatment that works with the “dynamics” between the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind. I offer both treatments. When you are considering treatment, it is important to consider what kind of therapy you are interested in. If you are interested in a highly exploratory approach, you may want to consider psychoanalysis, which is a more intensive and time committed form of therapy. Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychotherapy is less intensive but does require a close working relationship in which emotions, thinking patterns and behaviors are closely examined with your therapist. Both forms of psychoanalytic therapy will require an initial assessment, which is an opportunity to discuss what would like help with, and how that might be addressed through therapy or analysis. This is a process in which both you and the therapist can assess whether the therapeutic relationship feels like a good fit, and an opportunity to better understand the benefits of engaging in a long-term therapy.