Do you feel overwhelmed by anxiety, trapped by depression, or stuck in patterns that seem impossible to break? Perhaps you feel disconnected from the people around you, burdened by emotions that are hard to name, or weighed down by a sense that life has lost its spark. Maybe you simply feel that something isn’t right—that you’re not living your best life.
An expert mental health therapist, particularly an expert psychotherapist or psychoanalyst, can help. Your feelings are more common than you might think, and it’s completely normal to feel unsure about how to move forward. Luckily, you don’t have to face these challenges alone.
By working with a compassionate, expert mental health therapist, you can chart a new course toward clarity, emotional strength, and personal growth. Therapy provides more than support; it’s an empowering, collaborative process. Together with your therapist, you’ll uncover the weight you’ve been carrying and learn how to lighten it. You’ll find the tools, insights, and strength to rediscover joy, purpose, and connection — and move forward empowered rather than imprisoned by life’s challenges.
Read on to learn how a mental health therapist can help you, or schedule a consultation if you’d like to learn how I can help.
Are There Different Kinds of Mental Health Therapists?
Yes, there are different kinds of mental health therapists, each with unique training and expertise. Understanding the types of professionals available can help you find the right fit for your needs. Here are some of the main specialties:
Psychologists: Highly trained, licensed professionals with advanced degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health issues through psychotherapy and behavioral interventions. Because their training is specifically focused on psychotherapy or other forms of talk therapy, psychologists often have the most experience and expertise in these forms of therapy. Psychologists don’t prescribe medication, but do partner with a psychiatrist when medication is necessary.
Psychiatrists: Medical doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in mental health. Psychiatrists diagnose mental health disorders and prescribe medications. Some psychiatrists also provide psychotherapy, but many focus primarily on medication management.
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs): Therapists with a master’s degree in social work who provide support for individuals, families, and groups. They often focus on connecting clients with resources and addressing social or environmental factors that impact mental health.
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs): Therapists with a master’s degree in counseling who help people deal with emotional and behavioral issues.
Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs): Specialists with a master’s degree in therapy for individuals, couples, and families. They focus on improving relationships and addressing interpersonal dynamics.
Each type of mental health therapist brings a different type and level of training as well as a unique perspective and set of skills. Choosing the right professional depends on your specific needs, preferences, and goals. For instance, if you’re seeking therapy for a mental health condition like anxiety or depression, a psychologist could provide excellent treatment for you.
If you’re not sure where to start, I can help guide you in finding the right type of mental health support.
Are There Different Kinds of Mental Health Treatments?
There are many approaches to mental health treatment. Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are two of the most effective and transformative.
Psychotherapy: This is a cornerstone of mental health treatment, focusing on understanding and addressing the root causes of emotional and psychological challenges. Psychotherapy helps you gain insight, build resilience, and develop strategies for lasting change. It’s highly customizable, tailored to your unique needs, and provides a safe space for personal growth.
Psychoanalysis: This treatment creates long-term, meaningful change by comprehensively addressing the root causes of emotional and psychological difficulties. Psychoanalysis builds emotional resilience and fosters a deeper understanding of oneself, which in turn strengthens relational patterns and promotes healthier connections. While psychotherapy shares psychoanalysis’s depth-oriented nature and long-lasting results, psychoanalysis is more intensive, frequent, and long-term — it’s not uncommon for patients to meet up to four times weekly for many years.
Behavioral Therapy: This approach can include frameworks like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address specific patterns of thought or behavior. It can provide fast relief of symptoms but doesn’t treat their root causes. Psychotherapy can incorporate behavioral strategies that help you reframe negative thinking and develop healthier habits while simultaneously addressing deeper issues that would cause the negative symptoms to come back.
Medication: For some individuals, medication complements mental health treatment by addressing symptoms like severe anxiety or depression. While medication can help manage symptoms, psychotherapy focuses on creating deeper, long-lasting changes. And any psychologist can partner with a psychiatrist when medication would be a good complement to treatment.
Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis stand out because they are not just about symptom management. These psychodynamic treatments are about understanding yourself deeply and making meaningful changes that lead to a better, more fulfilling life. If you’re seeking a treatment approach that prioritizes your unique journey and helps you create lasting transformation, psychotherapy or psychoanalysis could be the right choice.
What is Psychodynamic Treatment?
Psychodynamic treatment (or psychodynamic therapy) is a blanket category that encompasses psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Rooted in Sigmund Freud’s original work and modernized by great thinkers through the present day, psychodynamic treatment is a collaborative process that helps you understand yourself more deeply and work through the emotional challenges that hold you back. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship issues, or working through any of life’s other issues, psychodynamic treatment provides a safe and supportive space to deeply explore your thinking and feelings and develop healthier patterns in your life.
You play an active role in psychodynamic treatment. Your therapist helps guide the conversation, but you’ll do the vast majority of the talking. In these conversations, you’ll collaborate with your mental health therapist to uncover the root causes of your struggles and change the way you see your world. Psychodynamic treatment isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about creating lasting, meaningful change.
How Psychodynamic Treatment Can Enhance Your Life
Psychodynamic treatment can fix your problems, but it’s not just for fixing problems. It can also profoundly improve your mental health and overall quality of life.
Psychodynamic treatment gives you clarity about the deeper issues and patterns of thinking behind your feelings and behaviors. It builds your resilience by developing tools to navigate life’s challenges with strength and confidence. It’s a treatment that’s just for you: customized to meet your unique needs and goals, and based on your unique history and experiences.
Imagine a life where anxiety no longer controls your decisions. You feel confident in your relationships and your ability to handle challenges. You experience greater joy, balance, and emotional well-being. You may still feel anxiety or sadness at times — we all do — but your emotions don’t control you. You’re able to face your problems head-on, and you feel the self-efficacy of finally being empowered by your life.
These are just a few of the possibilities that a psychodynamic mental health therapist can offer. By gaining insight into your thoughts and emotions, and learning how to step past your default patterns with healthier choices, you can build the life you want to create.
How I Can Help You
Choosing the right mental health therapist is extremely important. Here’s what sets me apart:
Extensive Expertise: I bring deep psychological knowledge, and 20 years of clinical experience with hundreds of diverse patients, to my psychodynamic work with children, adolescents, and adults.
Recognized Excellence: My colleagues have recognized my expertise by seeking me as a board member, supervisor, teacher, and presenter for such highly-respected psychological organizations as NYPSI, APSA, and ABPSA.
Personalized Approach: I work hard to understand your specific needs and tailor therapy that supports your unique journey.
Empathic Care: My patients love that I provide a warm and compassionate space where they feel safe to explore and grow.
Working with me, you’ll find a partner in your journey—someone who listens, supports, and challenges you to become the best version of yourself.
If you’d like to learn more about how I think about mental health treatment, try these articles:
“Find a Therapist Near Me” or “Find a GREAT Therapist Anywhere”? The Power of Online Therapy
Mental Health Therapy for Anxiety, Trauma, and Other Life Challenges
What Is Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and How Can It Help You?
Understanding Psychoanalysis: The Deepest Mental Health Therapy
Or if you’re ready to explore how my treatment can help transform your life, schedule a consultation today and let’s find your way forward.