What is the difference between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis?

Psychotherapy is a broad category of mental health intervention, which for many people includes numerous ways of exploring and working through their struggles.  While some psychotherapies include other forms of expression, such as art, dance, music, and other mediums, most psychotherapies are traditional talk therapy, where therapist and client talk their way through the issues at hand. In my practice, my psychotherapy clients and I typically meet weekly for talk therapy, though we can collaboratively determine whatever style and frequency is needed.

Psychoanalysis is a specific thread of mental health intervention, and comes from the founder of psychology, Sigmund Freud, from the late 1800’s. Though psychoanalysis has evolved over the years (and has become more relational), its main tenets involve an emphasis on the unconscious parts of our minds and relationships, and its therapeutic style often include multiple sessions per week for a number of years, allowing for deeper work to occur through greater trust being built via a more consistent therapeutic relationship.

How do I know which one is right for me?

There is undoubtedly some crossover for me in these styles of treatment, but if you are wanting to explore deeper issues from the past and perhaps need a higher frequency of sessions to help contain the emotional disruption of such an experience, psychoanalytic treatment might be right for you.

If you are wanting to discuss various issues in your life: past, present, or future, and prefer meeting for sessions less frequently, it’s possible that psychotherapy could be a good fit for you.

Do you take insurance?

I accept all forms of insurance as an out-of-network provider, and am a preferred in-network provider for First Choice, and Kaiser PPO plans.

Do you offer online therapy sessions?

I offer online therapy sessions, via phone or video sessions.