Psychotherapy Blog
Insights on Therapy, Relationships, and Emotional Life
I’m Andrea Crapanzano, Ph.D., a San Francisco psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist. Here I write about relationships, identity, men’s mental health, young adulthood, LGBTQ+ experiences, and the recurring emotional patterns that shape how we understand ourselves and connect with others.
The Art of Self-Reflection: Why Slowing Down Leads to Emotional Growth
Do you ever feel like life is moving so fast that you don’t have time to process your thoughts and emotions?
Why Men Struggle to Express Love (And How Therapy Can Help)
Do you have a hard time telling the people in your life that you love them?
Attachment Styles in Friendships: Why Some Friendships Feel Draining and Others Feel Safe
Have you ever noticed that some friendships feel easy and safe, while others leave you feeling anxious, drained, or unsure of where you stand?
Breaking Toxic Patterns: How Therapy Can Help You Choose Healthier Relationships
Have you ever found yourself in the same kind of unhealthy relationship, wondering why the pattern keeps repeating?
Bisexual Erasure in Therapy: Affirming Bisexual Clients in a World That Invalidates Them
Have you ever felt like your bisexuality was questioned, dismissed, or misunderstood—even in spaces that are supposed to be supportive?
Unpacking Your Shadow Self: How Psychodynamic Therapy Helps You Face the Parts of Yourself You Hide
Have you ever reacted in a way that surprised even you?
Do you have thoughts, emotions, or impulses that you try to ignore or suppress?
From People-Pleasing to Authenticity: Learning to Set Boundaries in Relationships
Do you often say yes when you really want to say no?
Do you feel responsible for other people’s happiness, even at your own expense?
Do you struggle with guilt when setting boundaries?
Navigating Family Expectations vs. Your Own Path
Have you ever felt torn between what your family expects of you and what you truly want for yourself?
Healing from Past Relationships: Letting Go of Emotional Baggage
Have you ever wondered why some wounds linger, why certain patterns keep repeating, or why opening yourself up to love again feels so difficult?
Unpacking Bias in Therapy: Helping Clinicians Recognize and Address Unconscious Bias
What happens when unconscious bias—even from well-intentioned therapists—creates barriers to trust, understanding, and true healing?
Performance Anxiety in the Bedroom: Unpacking Psychological Roots
Do you feel pressure to “perform” perfectly every time?
Do you worry about disappointing your partner or not being “enough”?
Transference: What It Is and How It Helps You Understand Your Relationships
Have you ever felt an intense emotional reaction to someone and weren’t sure why?
Do you sometimes expect people to behave like those from your past?