Aviva Psychology Services
Psychodynamic therapy
Helping those who are ready to change the same unhelpful relationship patterns that keep repeating.
When the same patterns keep showing up, no matter how hard you try
You may have noticed that certain things keep happening in your life. The same kinds of relationships. The same arguments. The same feelings of not being quite understood, or not quite enough. You work hard. You try to do things differently. And yet something keeps pulling you back to familiar ground.
Psychodynamic therapy is the work of understanding those roots. It looks at how early experiences, unconscious patterns, and your most important relationships continue to shape how you feel and act now, with the goal of meaningful, lasting change rather than temporary symptom relief. If you are looking for psychodynamic therapy in Massachusetts with experienced doctoral-level psychologists, we invite you to explore whether Aviva may be the right fit.
What is psychodynamic therapy?
Psychodynamic therapy is an insight-oriented approach to psychotherapy that aims to increase self-awareness and understanding of the influence of your past on your present behavior. It is grounded in the idea that many of the patterns that shape our relationships, our emotional lives, and our sense of self developed early in life, often outside of our conscious awareness.
Through psychodynamic therapy, you and your psychologist will explore past relationship patterns, early experiences, and the ways you learned to protect yourself. You will begin to understand how those strategies, which once made sense, may now be interfering with connection, intimacy, and well-being in the present.
Psychodynamic therapy has a long and substantial evidence base. Modern meta-analyses, including those published in the American Psychologist, have found it to be as effective as other established psychotherapies across a range of presentations, with benefits that often continue to grow after treatment ends.
Who can psychodynamic therapy help?
Psychodynamic therapy is effective for a wide range of concerns, including:
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety and chronic worry
- Relationship difficulties and recurring relational patterns
- Insecurity, self-criticism, and low self-worth
- Difficulty expressing needs or asserting boundaries
- Grief and loss
- Identity and self-understanding
- The lasting impact of early experiences or trauma
Psychodynamic therapy is often a good fit for individuals who want to understand themselves more deeply, who sense that their present difficulties have roots in the past, and who are open to a reflective, exploratory process aimed at improving healthy connection to yourself and others.
How psychodynamic therapy works
Psychodynamic therapy is a collaborative and exploratory process. Rather than following a structured protocol, sessions are shaped by what is most alive and meaningful for you. Your psychologist will listen closely, notice patterns in what you share, and gently bring awareness to themes and dynamics that may be operating outside of your conscious awareness.
A significant part of the work involves exploring your relational history. How did the important relationships of your early life shape the way you see yourself and others? What did you learn about safety, connection, and what to expect from people? These early experiences form templates that often replay in adult relationships without us realizing it.
As those patterns become more visible, they also become more open to change. Insight alone is rarely enough, but insight combined with a genuine therapeutic relationship and active skill building create the conditions for something to shift at a deeper level.
Why we use this approach at Aviva Psychology Services
Psychodynamic therapy fits naturally within our broader approach to care. We believe that humans are both hurt and healed in relationships, and that a trusting, honest therapeutic relationship is essential for change. Psychodynamic therapy is built on exactly that foundation.
Our psychologists are trained in psychodynamic therapy because of its depth, its effectiveness in creating long term change, and its relational foundation. It is particularly effective for concerns that go beyond symptoms to the underlying patterns and experiences that shape them.
We also value what psychodynamic therapy offers that more structured approaches sometimes cannot. For some people and some concerns, what is needed is not a protocol but a space to slow down, look inward, and begin to understand the story beneath the symptoms.
Our psychologists integrate psychodynamic work with other approaches in our practice, including CBT, ACT, and IFS, to provide comprehensive, individualized care that fits each person's needs. You can learn more about our clinicians and their training
here.
What does a psychodynamic therapy session look like?
Psychodynamic therapy sessions are open, collaborative, and shaped by you. Your psychologist will typically invite you to share what is on your mind, what feels most present, or what has come up since the last session.
As you talk, your psychologist will listen for patterns, themes, and connections. They may ask questions that open a new perspective, reflect something back, or draw your attention to something that seems significant. Psychodynamic therapists range in their styles-- while some may follow your lead, many are more directive.
Over time, the sessions themselves become a kind of laboratory. The way you relate to your psychologist, what feels safe to say and what does not, what you avoid and what you return to-- all of this becomes material for understanding yourself more deeply and identifying opportunities to try something new.
Many clients find that psychodynamic therapy offers something they have not experienced elsewhere-- a space that is genuinely curious about them and their identity development beyond their symptoms, and a relationship in which they feel truly understood and free to learn and practice new ways of relating in a safe relationship.
Common concerns addressed through psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, chronic low self-worth, and relational difficulties. It is particularly well-suited for individuals who struggle with recurring relationship stuckpoints, difficulty expressing needs and boundaries, grief, and the lasting impact of early experiences or trauma. The approach is also effective for identity concerns, self-criticism, and a general sense of feeling stuck in ways that are difficult to articulate.
What psychodynamic therapy can help you build
Self-awareness
Develop a deeper understanding of how your past has shaped your present, and how that awareness opens the door to change.
Healthier relationships
Recognize and shift the relational patterns that have kept you feeling stuck, misunderstood, or disconnected.
Greater freedom
Reduce the grip of insecurity, self-criticism, and old protective strategies so you can express yourself and assert your needs more authentically.
Psychodynamic therapy has one of the longest research histories in the field of psychotherapy. A substantial body of evidence supports its effectiveness for depression, anxiety, personality-related concerns, and relational difficulties, with research suggesting that the gains made in psychodynamic therapy often continue to grow after treatment ends.
Clients often report lasting improvements in self-understanding, relational functioning, and emotional well-being as a result of psychodynamic work. While outcomes vary by individual, many clients begin to notice meaningful shifts in their relationships and sense of self within the first several months of treatment.
Is psychodynamic therapy the right fit for you?
It may be a good fit if you are curious about yourself and open to a process that is exploratory rather than highly structured. It tends to work well for people who sense that their present difficulties have deeper roots, who want more than symptom relief, and who value a genuine therapeutic relationship as part of the healing process.
That said, therapy approaches are not one-size-fits-all. Your psychologist will discuss fit openly during the assessment process and collaborate with you to determine the best approach for your specific situation.
What's next?
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but we keep the process simple and supportive. Here’s what to expect:
Request an Appointment
Once you complete this form, we will reach out. If we have a fitting opening, we will schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to assess fit further together.
Assessment and Planning
During the first 2-4 sessions we assess your history, symptoms, and goals. Together, you and your psychologist will establish a treatment plan and discuss next steps.
Ongoing Weekly Sessions
Sessions are typically weekly for 55 minutes at a consistent time. You and your psychologist will focus on your treatment needs and goals.
FAQs
How is psychodynamic therapy different from other approaches?
Psychodynamic therapy is highly focused on forming a deep and trusting therapeutic relationship that's safe to both understand unhelpful relational patterns while also practicing new relational skills in a safe relationship. It is less structured and more exploratory than approaches like CBT or ACT yet offers active feedback. Rather than following a protocol, it focuses on insight, self-understanding, and the relational patterns that shape your emotional life. For many people it offers a depth of understanding and therapy relationship that other approaches do not always reach.
How long does psychodynamic therapy typically take?
Psychodynamic therapy can be used in shorter-term focused work or as part of longer-term therapy. Because it addresses deeper patterns and relational dynamics, many people find that a longer course of treatment allows for the most meaningful and lasting change. Your psychologist will discuss a realistic timeline during the assessment process.
Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Psychodynamic therapy has a substantial research base supporting its effectiveness across depression, anxiety, and relational concerns. Research also suggests that the benefits of psychodynamic therapy often continue to grow after treatment ends, which is a finding less common in other approaches.
Is psychodynamic therapy available via telehealth?
Yes. We offer both in-person sessions at our offices in Boston and Northampton and telehealth sessions for clients across Massachusetts.
Ready to explore psychodynamic therapy?
If you are considering psychodynamic therapy in Massachusetts, a consultation can help determine whether this approach aligns with your goals. We will review your concerns, answer questions, and outline next steps if fitting.
