PSYCHOANALYSIS and psychotherapy:
AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF

The decision to see a psychoanalyst or therapist is a personal and important one. This form of treatment is a unique, individual process, a journey that is at times unpredictable and winding. It calls for active effort and honesty on your part, and intense, attentive listening on my part. It varies depending on the concerns to be addressed and your individual life situation. This page explains a psychanalytic approach to treatment. Practice policies and consent forms are included in this document. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Initial Consultation: I offer a complimentary consultation so that I can better understand what challenges you are facing. l find that most people are coping with several life concerns at the same time and having someone to listen and begin to assist in sorting out the issues can be valuable. We will also discuss more about the structure, process, and time commitment involved in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy (see below). From that discussion, we can make a better decision about the type of treatment needed, and the factors to consider in the important decision to begin treatment.

   Benefits/Risks/Outcomes: The most important factor for positive treatment outcomes is the therapeutic relationship. At the beginning, we will both assess whether a psychoanalytic approach may be useful for you at this time. With commitment and effort, therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, greater understanding and acceptance of self and others, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. Unpleasant emotions can arise in therapy, such as sadness, guilt, anger, or loneliness. At times you may feel nothing is happening. These are all normal reactions to therapeutic work. Therapy may also lead to relational changes that were not originally intended. Since this is a complex, personal process, no guarantees can be made about ultimate outcomes or length of most treatments.

   Therapy Structure and Process: Sessions are 45 minutes. We set consistent days and times for sessions. Session frequency is based on discussion of your concerns, life situation, and what you hope to gain from treatment. Referrals may be made, depending on your therapeutic needs.

    Some therapies are brief (about 3 to 6 months) due to the need to work in a time-limited way around a very specific issue or life decision. However, due to the complexity of most life issues, often the exact length of therapy cannot be predicted. Many patients in my practice are engaged in psychoanalytic work, an intensive therapy designed to address long-standing distress such as recurrent emotional episodes, behavior patterns, or life events that can lead to difficulties in daily living. Patients often talk of feeling stuck in their lives or identify unwanted life patterns. No two therapies or patients are alike. No one approach fits everyone. Please feel free to raise any concerns about your therapy during sessions.

    Once treatment has begun, the expectation is that we have both made a commitment to engage in the work. The time we set aside for sessions is your time. Carefully consider your schedule and lifestyle to determine if this time will work for you. I will notify you of my time away as far in advance as possible. I ask that you do the same. Sometimes people may want to stop therapy abruptly. Since this may be related to the work, I ask that you discuss this with me. If there is something you didn’t like, please raise the issue so we can work to resolve it.

I hope this has helped to answer some questions you may have. Please contact me if you have other questions.