What Is Psychodynamic Therapy (And Is It Right For Me)?

There are many different theoretical approaches in the realm of psychotherapy. And while each approach has its own strengths and impactful techniques, Los Angeles psychotherapists may often choose one theory as their primary lens for their conceptualization of healing and their work with clients.

At Highland Park Holistic, many of our Los Angeles therapists practice psychodynamic therapy.

”What exactly does psychodynamic mean?”

Prospective clients interested in LA therapy ask us this quite often, so let’s get into it…

So What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy, to put it simply, is an approach centered on the idea that an individual’s unconsciously held beliefs are likely shaping their external life. This means getting to the root of an individual’s pain, suffering, and emotional distress in order to bring balance and, ultimately, healing.

These unconscious beliefs can create difficult patterns and dynamics that get repeated in our day to day lives. A psychodynamic therapist takes into account your feelings, thoughts, experiences in early life, trauma, cultural experiences and other things to try to understand your underlying patterns.

You and your Los Angeles psychotherapist work together in psychodynamic therapy to interpret and understand your mental and emotional experiences. Psychodynamic therapists use a psychological lens to explore your particular processes, bringing the client’s awareness to their internal world and emotional reality.

This differs from some other approaches in that we are focused more on identifying the root of a client’s concerns and trying to treat symptoms. While symptom management and coping strategies are often a part of a client’s treatment, we believe that if the underlying cause and the unconscious beliefs aren’t addressed, symptoms are likely to remain.

Will Psychodynamic Therapy Help Me Achieve My Therapy Goals?

We encourage our clients to remember that healing is rarely a linear process and, unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach that will work for everyone. However, there is evidence to support psychodynamic techniques and interventions being effective in treating a variety of mental health concerns, including….

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Grief and Loss

  • Stress Management

  • Life Transitions

  • Relationships

  • Trauma

  • and more

Is This Approach Effective for Trauma Therapy

At our holistic therapy practice in Los Angeles, one of our specializations is working with trauma and providing trauma-informed care.

Trauma-informed simply means that all of our clinicians understand that individuals who have experienced trauma may have been impacted by those events—so what happened in the past could impact what is happening in the present moment. Additionally, this means that an L.A. psychotherapist needs to be aware of how to support the client and help them feel both safe and empowered in their healing journey.

This means we are integrating both psychodynamic tools and techniques while also using our awareness of how trauma can impact a person’s mind, body, and spirit.

How to Find The Right Psychodynamic Therapist in Los Angeles

Finding a new therapist in Los Angeles can be challenging (In case you missed it, we have a blog with our favorite tips and tricks for finding the right LA therapist here).

Work with a Psychodynamic Los Angeles Therapist

Start your healing journey with one of our psychodynamic therapists in Los Angeles! We are now accepting new clients who live in Los Angeles (and any resident of California!). Schedule a complimentary phone consultation with our Care Coordinator today to learn more!

Jenny Walters