Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic therapy as a depth-oriented approach that focuses on unconscious processes, emotional conflicts, and relational patterns. This therapy aims to help individuals gain insight into their inner world, resolve psychological distress, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. Unlike brief, symptom-focused therapies, psychodynamic therapy encourages deep emotional exploration and meaning-making. That process takes more time, but causes fundamental changes in the quality and satisfaction of an individual’s life. The goal of psychodynamic approach is not just symptom relief but lasting personality transformation and improved emotional resilience.
During the therapy process, we explore childhood experiences and attachment patterns as they play a crucial role in shaping personality and psychological difficulties, echoing in all types of relationships. In a psychodynamic approach the therapeutic relationship is central, as clients often project past relational dynamics onto the therapist, providing insight into unresolved conflicts. We use psychotherapy session as a sample of a client’s life. For example, clients might see their therapist as a father or mother figure, expecting approval or fearing criticism; developing feelings for their therapist, mistaking the safe, supportive environment for romantic attraction; a client reacts to their therapist like they would to a past boss or teacher, feeling intimidated or rebellious. I help my clients to learn to recognize and understand their defense mechanisms, such as denial (Refusing accept reality to avoid distress), projection (attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings to others), splitting (seeing the world black or white: people good or bad, situations right or wrong), Sublimation (for example turning aggression into active sport; unsatisfied intimate desire turning into cooking, etc.) intellectualisation (ability to rationalize any emotions) humor (ability to deal with heavy emotions) and other defense mechanisms, which were helpful when developed in early age in unbearable for young child circumstances, but now may hinder emotional growth, which might look like issues in relationships, professional or/and financial dissatisfaction, substance abuse, etc.
Psychodynamic therapy is not just about analyzing the past-it’s about helping clients develop self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and healthier relationships.
At VK Wellness we offer individual Psychodynamic therapy to children and adults.
Price: $125/session (not currently covered by extended benefits and other funding sources)
The first step is to book an intake session with a Psychodynamic therapist. You can book an intake with Julie here:
