What is psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis?

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is similar to psychoanalysis in its view that emotional difficulties are connected to one's unconscious conflicts.  Psychodynamic therapy is typically more short-term than psychoanalysis, although both address how one's unconscious is contributing to current thoughts, beliefs, feelings and behaviors.   This unconscious is made up of childhood experiences that get internalized, "forgotten", but are enacted repeatedly in adulthood in ways that are sometimes self-defeating or unproductive.  Despite one's best efforts, one cannot discover one's unconscious without professional help.  The goal of this form of therapy is to become one's own therapist by having a greater sense of insight, self-awareness, capacity for self-observation and control over one's own behaviors, experiences and thoughts.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

This form of therapy is focused on the distortions in those thoughts that result in maladaptive behavior and ways of relating to others.  While an examination of your childhood may occur, it is not the primary focus of therapy.  Instead, those thoughts that are automatic and often self-defeating or irrational are identified, challenged and modified so that you have a more realistic interpretation of what you hear and how you react to communications and behaviors within your relationships and life.   Cognitive behavioral therapy ultimately helps you learn effective tools and skills that help change the way you think, feel and behave.  It is a more action-oriented approach and helps you to gain competence and confidence in dealing with real-life issues. 

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of treatment that was originally designed to relieve the distress associated with traumatic memories.  It employs the use of bilateral stimulation to create changes in the brain that have resulted from trauma.  As these brain changes occur, and the trauma is processed and resolved on a physiological level, current day problems begin to dissolve and unexpected positive changes result.   To see images of brain scans conducted pre and post-EMDR, please see http://www.emdrtraining.com/files/EMDR_AmenScans.pdf​.  

What is the Flash Technique?

Developed in mid-2016, the Flash technique allows clients to reduce the distress and suffering associated with painful memories without actually feeling the pain. Defenses that usually interfere with processing are not activated because Flash is not painful and does not require that people talk about or even focus on their traumas. Clients who often dissociate will generally not do so during Flash and those who are afraid of feeling the pain associated with their traumatic memories can engage in the process of Flash without fearing becoming overwhelmed.  In fact, the opposite usually occurs.  One will generally experience significant reductions in disturbance associated with painful or traumatic memories within 5 to 10 minutes, and instead, will feel calm, and even happy.

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Modalities of treatment include Motivational Interviewing, Problem Solving Therapy;  individual, group and family therapy,  and mindfulness/meditation 

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."
​-Nelson Mandela

Terry Jordan, LCSW, DCSW
​Psychotherapist
​​P.O. Box 4876
Culver City, CA 90231
terry@psychotherapyinla.com
(310) 895-4848