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Psychodynamic therapy
Understanding how early relationships and patterns you can't quite see are shaping what keeps happening now.
One of our therapists lists this approach.
Some problems keep coming back in different forms: the same kind of partner, the same conflict with every boss, the same collapse after every success. Psychodynamic therapy works on the assumption that these patterns have roots, often in early relationships, and that a lot of what drives them is outside of awareness. Bringing it into awareness is what loosens its grip.
It's a less structured, more exploratory way of working than CBT. The relationship with the therapist matters, because the patterns that show up elsewhere tend to show up there too, where they can be looked at safely.
What we use it for
- Depression
- Self-esteem
- Relationship counseling
- Grief & loss
- Stress & life transitions
- Borderline personality disorder
Is it a fit?
A good fit if you're less interested in managing symptoms than in understanding yourself, if you've done skills-based therapy and something still keeps repeating, or if your difficulties are mainly in relationships and sense of self.
What the evidence says
Meta-analyses show psychodynamic therapy produces effects comparable to other evidence-based therapies for depression, anxiety and personality-related difficulties, with gains that often continue to grow after treatment ends. One of our clinicians lists it as a primary approach, and others draw on its ideas within integrative work.
Common questions
Is this Freudian analysis?
Psychodynamic therapy descends from that tradition but looks very different today: you sit in a chair, meet weekly, and the focus is on current relationships and patterns as much as on the past.
How long does it take?
It varies more than with structured therapies. Some people do focused work for a few months; others find a longer, open-ended course worthwhile. You and your therapist will talk about it as you go.
Where to find it
Based on our clinicians' current specialties, this approach is offered at one location:
Closer to Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, North Charleston, Forest Acres, Irmo, Greenville, Anderson or online? Call (843) 894-0000; the right therapist may be available by video, or we'll suggest the nearest office with the right fit.
Ready when you are.
Call us or submit a short intake form. A Patient Account Representative will match you with a therapist, and most new clients have their first appointment within a few business days.