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You might be seeking therapy because you are struggling with your stage in life, your feelings, or your relationships. You may feel as though you should be happy but you keep getting stuck in feelings of isolation, worry, or guilt. This experience may be weird or unsettling because you never used to be this way, or maybe you’ve been experiencing this way too long and you’re numb to your own suffering.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy can help because it is a space for you to be heard, understood, and known. It is an opportunity to explore these parts of yourself and your life that are confusing or dissatisfying. Goals in psychotherapy are different for each individual: relieving distress, processing trauma, gaining insight or clarity, feeling supported, developing strategies or solutions, or experiencing a new relational dynamic. Our therapists are trained to listen to your words and the things you don’t yet know how to say and be with you in the process of change.
We have availability for online therapy throughout Washington and in-person sessions in Lower Queen Anne (an ideal location for anyone living or working in Seattle). We specialize in working with adolescents, young adults, and professionals.
We will reflect on who you are and give you space to explore who you want to be.
The therapists are Relational Psych all specialize in psychodynamic therapy. We believe that while your current issues are contributing to your current distress, it is unlikely that they are completely separate from other experiences you’ve had throughout your life. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a research-supported approach that focuses on experiencing emotions, being known in relationships, and developing insight of past experiences.
While a result of psychodynamic psychotherapy can be symptom reduction, we have a priority to go deeper than symptoms. This approach prioritizes increased self-understanding, emotional capacity, satisfaction in relationships, integrated sense of self, and psychological strengths. We are committed to providing trauma-informed, culturally-competent, ethical, and professional care every time.
While our team of therapists have been trained in many theoretical orientations (e.g., DBT, EFT, & CBT), we primarily utilize psychodynamic theory and interventions because it facilitates the greatest and longest-lasting change. In our commitment to this depth approach, Relational Psych therapists have a high value for being in therapy themselves and regularly participating in ongoing consultation, study, and training.
It is vulnerable to begin therapy. During your initial contact, our care coordinator, Ally, will listen to what you are experiencing and what you are looking for in treatment. She will consider which therapist is the best fit for you based on style, expertise, and also some logistics like scheduling. Once you get scheduled, she will send you online intake paperwork to complete before your first session.
At your first meeting, your therapist will spend time setting the "frame" for what your time together will be like. They will approach this session with some structure (identifying relevant background information, getting to know you, inviting you to ask questions of them, asking about your intentions for therapy) while remaining flexible to attend to what feels most relevant to you right now. This means that if you're in crisis or need immediate support with a particular situation, we'll start there. Or, if you need time building trust before sharing the harder stuff, we'll be patient. If you don't know where to start, we'll help.
Since our team includes specialists in psychological assessment, your therapist may recommend that you complete empirically supported assessment instruments at the beginning of treatment. This will help them adapt their approach to therapy to your specific concerns and personality functioning. You will discuss the results together and incorporate the findings into your work and focus of treatment. We can also provide you with a formal report for an additional fee.
Sessions are typically held at least once a week in order to maintain consistency and focus. Any less frequent, and your time can be spent too often in “catch up” mode and less focused on attending to the issues you came to therapy for. Sometimes, your therapist may recommend scheduling sessions more frequently than once a week. This could be to provide more support or to facilitate greater depth in the work. We do not typically recommend biweekly sessions.
