Isabella Riojas, PhD

Psychodynamic Therapy

Ever notice the same patterns showing up again and again in your life—whether it's in relationships, work, or how you respond to stress? Psychodynamic therapy helps you understand why these patterns exist and how they're connected to deeper parts of your experience.

What Psychodynamic Therapy Is

Psychodynamic therapy is rooted in the idea that our past experiences—especially early relationships—shape how we see ourselves and others. Many of the struggles we face in adulthood are connected to unresolved feelings, old wounds, or patterns we learned long ago as a way to cope.

This approach isn't about blaming your past or dwelling on it endlessly. It's about understanding how it's still influencing your present—so you can make conscious choices instead of reacting on autopilot.

What to Expect

Psychodynamic therapy is exploratory and open-ended. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, we'll look at the bigger picture—your relationships, your emotions, your inner life. You might talk about your childhood, but you'll also talk about what's happening right now.

The relationship between us becomes part of the work, too. How you relate to me can reveal important patterns about how you relate to others. It's a process of building insight and self-awareness, which often leads to lasting change.

It's About Understanding Yourself More Deeply

Psychodynamic therapy doesn't offer quick fixes or step-by-step solutions. It's slower, more reflective work. But for people who want to understand themselves on a deeper level—and break free from patterns that have been holding them back for years—it can be profoundly transformative.

If you're ready to explore what's beneath the surface, this approach might be right for you.