Psychotherapy is a significant undertaking, so it is important to understand what you are getting into! I have prepared this section to discuss my philosophy and approach to psychotherapy for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the process.

My Logo

A tree mirrored by its roots below, the this logo is meant to convey my core conviction - the health and flourishing of our lives is deeply grounded in our roots. Just as a beautiful and flourishing tree is the product of a healthy root system, so it is with you and I. This means that our present is constantly influenced by what is deep within us and within our histories, and that by healing and restoring these roots, we can become healthier people.

Unfortunately, many of the approaches to counseling and psychotherapy that are common today are akin to putting some shiny green paint on the leaves, giving them the appearance of health, while the root systems remain lacking. While the leaves may look wonderful for a time, the temporary solution fades away, exposing the tree in its original state. This is why I take an approach to therapy that aims to repair and rebuild a thriving “root system” in individuals.

To varying degrees, all of us carry around unhealthy ways of being and relating that may cause us excessive pain and grief, becoming expressed through significant psychological suffering. Many forms of therapy aim to relive this psychological suffering, a noble goal, but neglect to look at the underlying causes that have lead to what are considered “symptoms." I, however, believe that to attain lasting relief , old and embedded patterns of being and relating must be understood fully, and new ways must be discovered and created. Ultimately, this should lead to more than just relief of symptoms, but increase the quality of relationships, depth of living, and help individuals to flourish as whole people.

My Approach

Within the mental health field, the approach described above can be broadly defined as psychodynamic psychotherapy. While I often employ aspects of other therapeutic approaches, the heart and soul of my approach lies here. The origins of this type of therapy come from the tradition of psychoanalysis, but one that has grown and evolved far beyond its origins in the work of Sigmund Freud.

Simply using the term psychoanalysis and the name Freud may stir up a variety of associations for you, both positive and negative, and it is my hope that I can help clear up many of the misconceptions that are in our culture surrounding these things. If you walk into a modern physics classroom, you will find that the growth of physics did not freeze with the work of Isaac Newton. Just as the theory and practice of physics has grown and evolved tremendously over the years in ways that Newton could not have predicted, so it is with psychoanalysis. You might not know this from introductory psychology textbooks or the representation of psychoanalysis in popular culture, but many of the initial theories and practices espoused by Freud have been transformed, improved upon, or sometimes abandoned. Nonetheless, the image of psychoanalysis has often remained frozen in time and based on caricature.

What is a Psychodynamic Approach?

As you may have surmised by now, a psychodynamic approach is concerned with the roots of people's difficulties. The goals of a psychodynamic approach begin with understanding and awareness of embedded ways of being and relating. Generally these ways of being and relating operate out of our awareness, in what is often referred to as our unconscious. The unconscious is not some place of mystical mumbo-jumbo, but simply the automatic, underlying ways of thinking and feeling that we have not attended to. These may be thoughts and feelings about ourselves, certain individuals, or the world.

Psychodynamic therapy is also concerned with helping us into areas we have avoided. This is not merely past experiences we have avoided exploring, but also the ways we are resistant toward facing and dealing with distressing thoughts and feelings. Many of these things are (you guessed it) unconscious, and there is great freedom in facing beasts we have been running from, intentionally or not.

Of course, psychodynamic therapy also has a significant focus on our past. The families we grew up in, traumatic experiences, and significant relationships we have been in all influence who we are and how we relate to ourselves and others. Research in human development and attachment has provided a wealth of evidence that our ways of being and relating are inevitably products of how we have been related to. However, this does not mean that all we are interested in is tracking down the “smoking gun" of trauma or abuse hidden in the past. Much of the time, this is not the case. And when it is, simply discovering them does not often lead to sudden change, but starts initial steps toward change.

In reality, who we are in the present is a product of all of our human interactions, from birth to present. Our present relationships are enormous expressions of our inner dynamics, including the therapeutic relationship. In psychodynamic approaches, the relationship between the individual and their therapist is very important. Through this relationship many of the old ways of being and relating are experienced. Whatever themes are present in a person’s life, these inevitably come out in the therapeutic relationship. Due to the safety and privilege of this relationship, these experiences can be talked about and explored, uncovering old relationship patterns and building healthier new ones.

All of these elements combine to form new levels of insight and understanding through the therapy process. However, insight alone does not miraculously bring about change. Psychodynamic therapy is ultimately a therapy aimed at experimenting with, creating, and consolidating new ways of being and relating. With increased awareness comes increased freedom and choice. New freedom of choice brings new opportunities to feel, think, and relate far beyond the bounds that once held us. As the roots begin to deepen and flourish, so do the trunk, limbs, and leaves of the life above the surface.

These all take time to unfold and develop within psychotherapy. Since the goals of psychodynamic therapy are not simply the quickest reduction of symptoms, but lasting and deep change, this type of therapy is considered a long-term approach. That is, it takes time and emotional energy to delve into and transform ourselves. In this way, psychodynamic therapy is not so much like going to the doctor, where you want to go the least amount as possible and get “cured” as quickly as you can. Psychodynamic therapy is more akin to the process of education or physical conditioning. It is an unfolding process that builds on itself over time, and is a challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling journey in its own right.

If you are interested in additional information about a psychodynamic approach to psychotherapy, I recommend a couple articles by a local Denver psychologist, Jonathan Shedler. Dr. Shedler has put together a wonderful introductory article on psychodynamic therapy, as well as a significant research study concerning the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy. You may also find answers to specific questions in my F.A.Q section.