What Psychodynamic Therapy Helps You Uncover That Other Therapies Often Miss

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in San Francisco

Many people come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they can’t explain. They might say things like:

·       “I keep attracting the same type of partner.”

·       “I know what I should do, but I can’t follow through.”

·       “I have everything I wanted, but I still feel empty.”

In my San Francisco psychotherapy practice, this comes up often—especially among adults who have tried structured, skills-based therapies but still feel that something deeper hasn’t shifted. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is designed to uncover the emotional and relational patterns that shape how you feel, think, and connect with others (McWilliams, 2021; Luyten & Fonagy, 2015).

Unlike more goal-oriented or symptom-focused approaches, psychodynamic therapy helps you understand why you react the way you do and how earlier experiences continue to influence your present life.

1. It Helps You Understand the Roots of Your Patterns

Many people feel frustrated by old habits they can’t break, even when they logically “know better.”

Psychodynamic therapy helps uncover:

·       Unconscious beliefs about yourself (“I’m too much,” “I’m not enough”)

·       Relationship templates formed early in life

·       Emotional reactions that don’t make sense logically

·       Repeated cycles of conflict, avoidance, or self-criticism

Research shows that these internalized patterns (often called schemas or internal working models) strongly predict adult relationships, emotional resilience, and well-being (Bowlby, 1988; Stern, 2010).

Understanding where these patterns come from often reduces shame and creates space for deeper change.

2. It Goes Beyond Symptom Relief

Many people first seek therapy for:

·       Anxiety

·       Depression

·       Relationship struggles

·       Work stress

·       Loneliness

·       Low self-esteem

·       Identity confusion

In psychodynamic work, what often emerges is a deeper understanding of how the mind organizes emotional experience.

Symptoms aren’t just problems to eliminate; they are signals pointing to parts of you that need attention, integration, and compassion (Shedler, 2010). Research consistently finds that psychodynamic therapy not only reduces symptoms but continues to produce improvement after therapy ends, suggesting durable internal change (Abbass et al., 2014; Shedler, 2010).

3. It Helps You Recognize Your Emotional Blind Spots

Everyone has blind spots—patterns we cannot see from the inside.

In psychodynamic therapy, clients often begin to notice:

·       What emotions they avoid

·       How they protect themselves when they feel vulnerable

·       The fears that drive certain reactions

·       How early experiences shape adult relationships

This insight is not about blaming the past. It’s about reclaiming the ability to respond differently in the present (Safran & Muran, 2000).

4. It Improves Your Relationships

So much of our emotional life is shaped through relationships.

Through the therapeutic relationship, you may begin to notice:

·       How you respond to closeness

·       How you manage conflict

·       How you seek reassurance or create distance

·       What intimacy brings up emotionally

·       How attachment patterns show up today

Psychodynamic therapy provides a safe, consistent setting to explore these themes. Evidence shows that enhancing relational capacity is one of the strongest predictors of long-term improvement (Norcross & Wampold, 2019).

5. It Helps You Understand Why Change Is Hard

Clients often ask:

“If I understand the problem, why can’t I just fix it?”

Psychodynamic therapy looks beneath the surface:

·       Parts of you may unconsciously fear change

·       Old beliefs may feel safer than the unknown

·       Emotional habits can feel familiar, even when painful

·       Self-protective strategies may be outdated but still active

Understanding the emotional reasons behind resistance helps foster lasting, not forced, change.

6. It Helps You Become More Yourself

One of the most meaningful outcomes people describe is a growing sense of authenticity.

Psychodynamic therapy can help you:

·       Understand who you are beneath roles and expectations

·       Explore parts of yourself that were ignored or suppressed

·       Make choices aligned with your values

·       Live with more intention and clarity

This is especially powerful in a place like San Francisco, where many adults are navigating identity questions, transitions, and reinvention.

FAQ: Psychodynamic Therapy in San Francisco

1. How long does psychodynamic therapy take?

It varies. While it isn’t designed as a quick fix, many people notice meaningful shifts within a few months. Deeper work often unfolds over time (Leichsenring et al., 2015).

2. How is this different from CBT?

CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors.
Psychodynamic therapy explores why those thoughts and behaviors developed and how to change them at the root.

3. Does psychodynamic therapy help with anxiety or depression?

Yes. Studies show that psychodynamic therapy is as effective as CBT for anxiety and depression, with longer-lasting gains (Shedler, 2010; Abbass et al., 2014).

4. How often are sessions?

Most clients attend weekly sessions. Some choose twice-weekly sessions for more intensive or accelerated work.

5. Is psychodynamic therapy helpful for identity exploration?

Absolutely. It is one of the most effective approaches for exploring identity, relationships, emotions, internal conflicts, and meaning-making.

If You’re Interested in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy in San Francisco

I offer psychodynamic psychotherapy in person for people in San Francisco and throughout California via online therapy or in-person sessions. If you’d like to explore working together, feel free to reach out or schedule a free 50-minute consultation.

References

Abbass, A., Town, J., & Driessen, E. (2014). Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of outcome research. Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development.
Leichsenring, F., Steinert, C., & Crits-Christoph, P. (2015). Psychodynamic therapy: A review of evidence. American Journal of Psychiatry.
Luyten, P., & Fonagy, P. (2015). The neurobiology of mentalizing. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment.
McWilliams, N. (2021). Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: A Practitioner’s Guide.
Norcross, J., & Wampold, B. (2019). Relationships and psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy.
Safran, J. D., & Muran, J. C. (2000). Negotiating the Therapeutic Alliance.
Shedler, J. (2010). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist.
Stern, D. (2010). Forms of Vitality.