What is psychoanalytic therapy?
Psychoanalytic therapy is a powerful approach that can help you:
Understand the deeper roots of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
Explore how past experiences, especially early relationships, still shape your life today
Identify and break free from unconscious patterns that keep you stuck
Speak openly and reflect deeply in a supportive, nonjudgmental space
Gain insight and self-awareness that leads to meaningful, lasting change
Build healthier relationships—with others and with yourself
Psychoanalytic therapy can benefit a wide range of people, particularly those who are interested in understanding the deeper roots of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It tends to be most helpful for people who:
1. Struggle with chronic or deep-seated emotional issues
Depression, anxiety, shame, guilt, low self-esteem
Long-standing interpersonal difficulties (e.g., repeating patterns in relationships)
Feelings of emptiness or lack of meaning
2. Are seeking self-understanding
Difficulty knowing what they want or feel
Conflicts around sexuality, gender, career, or values
A sense of being fragmented or not fully "themselves"
3. Are willing to engage in a reflective, collaborative process
Psychoanalytic therapy tends to go deeper than more symptom-focused approaches like CBT
It suits those who are curious, patient, and motivated to explore their inner world
4. Have tried other forms of therapy without lasting change
Especially if other approaches felt too surface-level or symptom-focused
When there’s a desire for more lasting personality growth or deeper healing