Psychodynamic Therapy in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a way of pulling you into a life that is constantly on the go. So, it becomes easy to long for the good ol’ times when everything was laid back and carefree. While some nostalgia is okay (and even welcome), getting stuck in past cycles of negative experiences can significantly impact your life in the present day.

Nearly 1 in 7 Californians live with mental health struggles, while more than a million persons struggle with some kind of substance misuse in Los Angeles. This indicates the need for psychotherapeutic options like psychodynamic therapy to understand how your unconscious, past experiences contribute to your present struggles - uncovering hidden patterns to gain insight into yourself and empower your recovery journey.

Psychodynamic therapy is a talk therapy that explores how your unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories contribute to your current struggles or concerns.

For instance, you may unconsciously be holding on to past relationship conflicts. Even if these conflicts happened with your parents during your childhood years, they can lead to certain symptoms that can interfere with your daily life - like excessive anxiety or depressive symptoms.

Linda Whiteside, Clinical Supervisor at the NuView Treatment Center, informs, “In this kind of therapy, you will collaborate with your therapist to understand these hidden patterns, as your unconscious mind operates out of your conscious awareness and may not be immediately evident to you.”

Psychodynamic therapy traces its origins back to Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis, and its techniques are firmly rooted in this school of psychology. The major ones are:

Free Association

To explore your hidden thoughts and emotions, you are allowed to speak whatever comes to your mind without having to filter out anything. Your therapist creates a safe environment for you where you can open up without having to restrain yourself.

Dream Analysis

Psychoanalysis believes that dreams are the royal road to your unconscious. You use dreams as a way to explore your hidden thoughts and feelings. Your therapist then interprets what your dreams and unconscious patterns mean.

Projective Tests

Your therapist can use different projective techniques, like inkblot tests or word association tests, to uncover your unconscious memories and feelings.

Confrontation

Your therapist sheds light on hidden patterns and contradictions that are not visible to you right away. You explore avoidance or hesitation regarding difficult topics with your therapist in a safe, non-judgmental setting.

Psychodynamic therapy sessions are rooted in free-flowing dialogue between you and your therapist. Your rapport with your therapist becomes the strong foundation of this therapy, as it uses techniques like free association that uncover buried memories and unresolved conflicts that impact your present behavioral patterns.

It is very likely that you will experience something known as transference, which is when you project from someone in your life onto your therapist. It can be both positive and negative, but this is a crucial insight into your emotional responses.

You may also feel resistant or oppose therapy at some points, which indicates that there is something difficult or even threatening for you to face. Your therapist will gently nudge you into these topics rather than forcing change. For instance, if certain conversations create anxiety, the most likely response is to shut down. However, your therapist will open it up as an opportunity and will safely let you explore and heal.

If psychodynamic therapy resonates with you, then depending on your diagnosis, and also your needs and preferences, there are several options to choose from:

• Psychoanalysis: The first talk therapy of its kind, it is intensive and longer lasting – it can even take years.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: It is a shorter version of psychoanalysis. There is brief psychodynamic therapy as well, which only focuses on one key concern or pattern.
• Object Relations Therapy: It focuses on how your early relationships have shaped your perspective and experiences.
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy: It focuses on resolving relationship concerns and conflicts that have been impacted by past experiences and patterns.

Yes, psychodynamic therapy is highly effective.

The American Psychological Association (APA) says that psychodynamic therapy is evidence-based and empirically supported. Some notable reviews have said that psychodynamic therapy is just as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - the gold standard for all therapies. While other studies have indicated that psychodynamic therapy is effective as other established treatments.

Linda Whiteside says, “There have been many controversies in the past regarding Freud’s theories of unconscious and hidden conflicts, and these may never be resolved because the unconscious is not a tangible concept. However, it does not take away from the fact that psychoanalysis is the foundation of talk therapy as we know it today.”

Psychodynamic therapy is used in the treatment of a wide range of substance misuse and co-occurring mental health concerns. Some of them are as follows:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depressive disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Personality disorders
• Eating disorders
• Substance use disorder
• Chronic pain

Psychodynamic therapy in Los Angeles can be a great option for you if you feel that your past is weighing heavily on your present. You get an opportunity to explore early childhood experiences and unresolved conflicts with past relationships that can contribute to your present struggles.

While therapeutic sessions mostly happen face-to-face, you can also avail online and telephonic options. LA behavioral health treatment options offer both intensity and convenience - your care is built around your life, rather than the other way around. The way it must always be.

At the NuView Treatment Center, psychodynamic therapy sessions are customized to your needs and preferences. Whether you are looking for longer healing options or targeting immediate goals, our therapists are ready to meet you where you are. We also integrate psychodynamic therapy into broader care plans that involve medication and holistic healing exercises for a lasting recovery.

Please do not hesitate to call us at (323) 307-7997 to connect with our experts today!

1. What is the history behind psychodynamic therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy traces its roots back to the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. He proposed that our personality is shaped by early childhood experiences, especially in how we relate to our caregivers. He believed that our unconscious mind houses hidden emotions and memories that significantly impact our present behaviors and struggles.

2. What are the major techniques used in psychodynamic therapy?

Free association, dream analysis and interpretation, projective tests, and confrontation are the major techniques of psychodynamic therapy.

3. What is transference and countertransference?

Transference is when you project your feelings regarding someone significant in your life onto your therapist, while countertransference indicates how your therapist emotionally reacts to you. Both transference and countertransference can be used to reflect on past conflicts and hidden patterns.

4. What is brief psychodynamic therapy?

Brief psychodynamic therapy is a very short psychodynamic therapy that focuses on one key concern. It has a fixed timeframe of 12-40 sessions.

5. How much does psychodynamic therapy cost?

Psychodynamic therapy costs vary depending on the duration and other unique factors. Typically, when psychodynamic therapy is integrated into broader rehab options, it is covered by insurance.