Psychoanalytic

I am trained in psychodynamic (also called psychoanalytic) approaches, which focus on deep listening to help you understand what is really going on behind your symptoms. Psychoanalytic therapy is one of the longest-enduring forms of therapy and its effectiveness has been empirically verified.

I was introduced to modern psychoanalysis through Naropa University, and have continued to deepen with ongoing studies at The Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies in Manhattan, NY.

Understanding how our perceptions of the contemporary are inextricably bound with events that seem passed represents the core of my theoretical orientation. Psychoanalytic practice helps organize which parts of our current experiences are connected to unconscious elements, and even elements that are constitutive of past experiences. When we can see past feelings through new lenses and with better language, we can experience faster conceptual connections and can achieve irl goals.

Psychoanalysis has so many confusing definitions which are worsened by how unethical therapy often depicted. Psychoanalytic therapy, for me, looks at what we are aware of and digs deeper to see what you might not be aware is there, but is affecting us negatively (ex: internalized transphobia, ableism, social or family messages of our values and worth as humans). In therapy I do ask about our pasts and how they are still currently affecting us and, sometimes, how that can be harmful to our health

I am a psychodynamic psychotherapist and a Clinical Fellow of the Neuropsychoanalysis Association.

The current versions of psychoanalytic therapy all examine how a person’s mind works and affects their view of themselves and the world they live in. One central focus is that unconscious factors affect current relationships and behaviors. Psychoanalysis changed since Freud founded it. I focus on how the ways trauma and attachment are central to understanding how the mind works and impacts current thinking, feeling, and behaving, as in my new book, Traumatic Experiences of Normal Development.

I see my role as a collaborator and supporter as you navigate a deeper understanding of yourself in a non-judgmental and affirming environment. I approach therapy from a relational and trauma-informed lens and believe in providing a space where you can feel seen, heard, and met where you are. At the core of all of this, my focus is always on building an authentic, trusting, and empathetic therapeutic relationship through which we can explore, learn, heal, and grow.

I have a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology, with many advanced trainings in Jungian Therapy, known also as Analytical Psychology or Depth Psychology. These include Certification in Jungian Studies, and ongoing Sandplay Training from the C. G. Jung Institute. I attend weekly educational seminars in psychoanalytic counseling with Jungian Analysts in the international and local communities.

I am trained in Modern Analysis. I will help you put words to your thoughts, feelings and urges.

Psychodynamic Therapy focuses on uncovering unconscious patterns and unresolved conflicts from past experiences that influence present behavior and emotions. By bringing these to awareness, clients gain deeper insight into their thoughts and feelings, allowing them to break free from unhealthy patterns. This approach fosters personal growth and emotional healing by addressing the root causes of current struggles, ultimately leading to greater self-understanding and lasting change.

I approach therapy through a Contemporary Psychoanalytic Lens to understand what is being communicated through one's behaviors and understand how past experiences influence current relationships. As we form a relationship, I have found individuals develop stronger insight, aiding with a deeper understanding of self, and experiencing more lasting and sustainable relief.

I work psychoanalytically with patients in order to more deeply explore and understand their internal world. Together we can create language for hidden, blocked, 'unthinkable' thoughts; name and reflect on unconscious conflicts; work through dreams; and build resilience.

I have four years of focused training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy through the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. In fall 2021, I was selected to train with the Palo Alto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program (PAPPTP) Two-Year Program at the Stanford University Psychiatry Building. In this certificate program, I underwent two years of weekly consultations with psychoanalysts, Drs. Schneider and Birkhofer. I completed training with the PAPPTP- Fellowship Year in 2024.

An individual is rooted with beliefs and customs due to upbringing, experiences or teachings that enable their current position in life. Understanding the root cause of traumas, anxieties or depression can help make changes for a better authentic self.

In order to heal, you have to truly get to know yourself. Psychoanalytic therapy helps you understand yourself on a more intimate level. By exploring past experiences and relationships, in addition to what is going on for you in the here and now, we can gain greater access to all that is you. This kind of therapy expands your consciousness and opens up worlds of possibility. You will start to connect the dots between past and present, which can be both revelatory and liberating.

I practice contemporary psychoanalytic therapy. This means I pay attention to how your past relationships affect the way you learn to regulate and manage emotions in your day-to-day life. Our brains are built through repeated interactions with our earliest relationships and environments, and can be changed through the experience of a new relationship: therapy. This means I consider our work in session as a chance to learn new ways of experiencing your emotions that lead to joy-filled life.

I have had extensive training with one of the developers of Relational Psychoanalytic psychotherapy. I have received two years of training at a Relational Psychoanalytic Institute.