Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Humans have universal, core emotions that are constantly seeking to be expressed. These core emotions, however, can sometimes feel too frightening or too painful and are unintentionally protected against with anxiety and various defense mechanisms. People avoid experiencing and expressing core emotions for good reason. Often, from a very young age, they have been taught implicitly or explicitly, that certain feelings are more acceptable than others. As life progresses, however, people tend to find that their defense mechanisms cause unnecessary suffering and negatively impact their relationships with themselves and others. They can be left feeling isolated and alone, even when they are spending time with others. Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy focuses on facilitating the experience and expression of core emotions that have been blocked under anxiety and defenses. Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy also helps individuals to develop a more accurate and compassionate view of themselves, with greater self-care, and autonomy. In addition, Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy helps people to modify their internally-held view of others, and their responsivity to others’ feelings, which fosters healthy connection and interdependence of the self with others. Relational Psychodynamic Psychotherapy prioritizes relational intimacy, and the therapeutic relationship is used to provide insight into an individual’s style of relating to others.