About psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy explores how early relationships, unconscious patterns, and emotional experiences influence your current feelings and behavior. Below you can browse therapists who list Psychodynamic Therapy among their approaches and review profiles to find a good fit.
What to compare in entries
| Credentials | A US state licence, or membership of a professional body such as BACP or NCPS. They are different kinds of thing; each profile shows what was supplied. |
|---|---|
| Focus | Whether psychodynamic therapy is listed as a main focus or among the wider list of areas. Entries show both. |
| Way of working | The approaches named on the entry. Two people working with the same concern can describe very different sessions. |
| Time in practice | Years in practice, as supplied. A fact to weigh, not a ranking. |
| Language | The languages sessions can be held in, where that matters to you. |
Common questions
How were these entries chosen?
Everyone listed on this page names Psychodynamic Therapy among the approaches they told the platform they use. They are not ranked, rated or endorsed by this directory, and the order is not a recommendation.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can contact a therapist through their entry directly. A GP referral is not required for independent online therapy.
What if the first therapist is not right?
Changing therapist is normal and expected, and can be done at any point. One session is a small sample of how someone works.
Entries for psychodynamic therapy
Savithri (Savi) Jayaweera, NCPS
Ref 151058
Compassionate counsellor for complex life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Hindi, Sinhala
View listingAngela Teasdale, NCPS
Ref 119622
Supportive counsellor focusing on practical change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingEleanor Dillon, NCPS
Ref 236009
Compassionate counselling for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Parenting, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJoanne Maddison, BACP
Ref 276861
Compassionate counsellor blending insight and practical tools
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJames French, BACP
Ref 203032
Practical support for anxiety and life transitions
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingTomasz Konieczny, BACP, NCPS
Ref 199992
Practical, compassionate online counselling
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English, Polish
View listingMargaret Johnston, LMHC
Ref 62092
Calm listening that helps you move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingNicola Claydon, NCPS
Ref 183763
Calm, practical support for complex life issues
Works with: Relationship, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingPamela Benoit, NCPS, BACP
Ref 180577
Compassionate practical psychotherapy
Works with: Relationship, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingRichard Gordon-Smith , NCPS
Ref 120083
Straightforward, experienced counsellor for complex issues
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Parenting Languages: English
View listingDanielle Horn, LMSW
Ref 272733
Focused therapy that digs to the root
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingJemma Heath, NCPS
Ref 197911
Support for stress, relationships and confidence
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingWellington Cesar Assis Bueno, BACP
Ref 226813
Healing emotions, building clearer choices
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingJennifer Lee Sylvester, LCSW
Ref 116075
Experienced LCSW offering respectful, practical care
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingSara Lowe, LPC
Ref 104527
Practical, compassionate therapy for life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression Languages: English
View listingJade Round, BACP
Ref 180505
Practical, person-focused therapy for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingAdrian Jackson, BACP
Ref 271038
Compassionate counsellor using practical, person-focused methods
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship Languages: English
View listingSarah Anderson, NCPS
Ref 133882
Practical support for stress and life changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMichael Witham, LPC
Ref 56161
Practical, person-focused counseling for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Anger Languages: English
View listingRev. Catherine Bogue, LCSW
Ref 168255
Compassionate guidance for life’s hard changes
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDianna Wheeler, LPC
Ref 354614
Practical support for healing and stronger coping skills
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMegan Warner, BACP
Ref 241754
Short-term practical counselling and coaching
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Career Languages: English
View listingDr. Yael Banai, LPC
Ref 120836
Experienced counselor with a calm style
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Career, Depression Languages: English
View listingAndrea Antrobus, BACP
Ref 121857
Warm counsellor blending practical therapy and listening
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingMaria Wilson, LCSW
Ref 138055
Understanding, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English
View listingVivian Fleming, LPCC
Ref 88191
Practical support for trauma and mood challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingDr. Robert Nolan, LMHC
Ref 15781
Steady, practical counseling for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Bipolar Languages: English
View listingColette Mattos, BACP
Ref 138095
Relationship and self-esteem focused counsellor
Works with: Relationship, Family, Parenting Languages: English
View listingJessica Langbehn, LCSW
Ref 313923
Compassionate trauma-informed care and goal-focused support
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingGerry Byrne, BACP
Ref 224563
Practical, collaborative therapy for daily struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingDonna Watts, BACP
Ref 219020
Compassionate, practical support for real-life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingKelley Sullivan, LCSW
Ref 526
Compassionate, practical therapy for real life struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Spanish
View listingPatrick Gribel, LMHC
Ref 348422
Therapist focused on depth and steady change
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Self esteem Languages: English, Portuguese
View listingRines Shanthakumar, BACP
Ref 251123
Practical, relational counselling for life’s challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem Languages: English, Tamil
View listingChris Rottcher, NCPS
Ref 167547
Compassionate integrative counsellor for life challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, Afrikaans
View listingChase Carter, LCSW
Ref 330670
Skilled LCSW focused on relationships and recovery
Works with: Addictions, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingDanielle Morgan, BACP
Ref 144635
Compassionate listener who helps people move forward
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem Languages: English
View listingNeha Kapoor, PACFA
Ref 212378
Compassionate counselling for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingPeter Bramhill, BACP
Ref 236747
Practical, compassionate counselling for life’s challenges
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingElaine Bell, BACP
Ref 183764
Calm, relational counselling for life changes
Works with: LGBT, Grief, Anger Languages: English
View listingRosalind Oliver, BACP
Ref 232595
Gentle practical therapy for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Trauma and abuse Languages: English, German
View listingJatindar Bhogal, BACP
Ref 116956
Calm, experienced support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family Languages: English, Punjabi
View listingTkeyah Whaley, LCSW
Ref 256644
Practical support for stress and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingVictoria Dann, BACP
Ref 269010
Gentle, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Parenting Languages: English
View listingBrandi Garner, LPC
Ref 209377
Practical, sex-positive counseling for adults
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Intimacy-related issues Languages: English
View listingAvril Harding, BACP
Ref 197916
Practical support for stress, anxiety and relationships
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Relationship Languages: English
View listingAyallah Richards-Mitchell, BACP
Ref 215221
Calm, practical support for everyday struggles
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse Languages: English
View listingMichele Krynski, CT Psychologist
Ref 82270
Experienced Connecticut psychologist for emotional healing
Works with: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief Languages: English
View listingMore about psychodynamic therapy
What Psychodynamic Therapy Is and the Principles Behind It
Psychodynamic Therapy is a broad therapeutic approach that traces its roots to classical psychoanalytic theory while adapting to contemporary clinical practice. At its core, the approach emphasizes the influence of past experiences and internalized relationships on present thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You are invited to explore how recurring patterns - often formed in childhood or through significant relationships - shape your responses to stress, intimacy, work, and self-perception. The focus is on gaining insight into unconscious or automatic processes so you can make more intentional choices in daily life.
Key principles include attention to internal emotional life, exploration of relational patterns, and examination of how you may repeat certain dynamics without conscious awareness. Therapists who list Psychodynamic Therapy among their approaches typically prioritize understanding meaning and context rather than only addressing surface symptoms. Treatment can draw on concepts such as transference and countertransference, which refer to the emotional reactions that arise between you and the therapist and can provide useful information about how you relate to others. This reflective orientation aims to increase self-awareness and support more adaptive ways of relating to yourself and others.
Common Issues Addressed with Psychodynamic Therapy
People often turn to Psychodynamic Therapy when they want to explore persistent emotional concerns or recurring interpersonal difficulties that have not resolved through brief, symptom-focused work. It is commonly used for long-standing feelings of low mood, anxiety that seems resistant to other strategies, unresolved grief, and problems with self-esteem or identity. You may also consider this approach when relationships - romantic partnerships, friendships, or family dynamics - leave you feeling stuck or when patterns of conflict and withdrawal repeat across different contexts.
Beyond mood and relationship struggles, Psychodynamic Therapy can be helpful for navigating life transitions, managing emotional reactions tied to trauma or loss, and understanding chronic patterns of avoidance or self-sabotage. The emphasis on exploring meaning and developmental history means you can address complex or layered difficulties that benefit from a deeper, interpretive stance. While it is not framed as a quick fix, many people appreciate how the approach supports durable change by addressing underlying processes that perpetuate distress.
What a Typical Psychodynamic Therapy Session Looks Like
Sessions usually unfold as a conversational process where you are encouraged to speak freely about thoughts, feelings, memories, and dreams that feel relevant. The therapist listens attentively for patterns, emotional themes, and moments where your reactions mirror past interpersonal dynamics. You may find that seemingly small details - a repeated worry, a dream, or a strong emotional response - become gateways into deeper understanding. The pace of sessions can vary; some people spend weeks exploring a single theme in detail, while others move more quickly between issues.
Interventions tend to be interpretive and exploratory rather than directive. Your therapist might gently reflect on connections between your present experiences and earlier life events, highlight patterns in how you relate to others, or name emotional defenses you use to manage difficult feelings. There is often a focus on the therapeutic relationship itself as a living example of broader relational patterns, which allows you to observe and work through interaction styles in real time. You are encouraged to bring whatever is on your mind to the session, and many clients report that the process helps them make sense of feelings they previously found confusing or overwhelming.
How Psychodynamic Therapy Differs from Other Common Approaches
Psychodynamic Therapy differs from more structured, skills-based therapies in its emphasis on understanding rather than only symptom reduction. Where cognitive-behavioral approaches may focus on identifying and changing specific thoughts and behaviors through practice and homework, psychodynamic work prioritizes the exploration of underlying emotional currents and relational histories. This reflective stance means that rather than teaching techniques to manage symptoms, the therapy aims to shift the inner dynamics that give rise to those symptoms.
Compared with shorter-term or manualized treatments, psychodynamic work often allows more freedom in session content and timing. It tends to be less focused on homework or manualized protocols and more on emergent themes that arise in the therapeutic conversation. That said, psychodynamic practice has evolved and many therapists blend elements from multiple approaches. If you prefer an interpretive, relationally oriented process that values depth and meaning, psychodynamic work may resonate. If you prefer highly structured sessions with concrete skill-building, you might find other approaches more aligned with your immediate goals.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy can be a strong fit if you are interested in understanding the origins of recurring patterns and willing to engage in exploration of thoughts, feelings, and relationships. You may benefit most when you are motivated to reflect on your history and current relationships, and when you are comfortable tolerating emotional material that may feel intense at times. Because the work often unfolds gradually, people who seek durable changes in self-understanding and relational functioning tend to appreciate the depth of this approach.
This approach can be adapted to different life stages and concerns, from young adulthood through later life, and can be used alongside other supports you may be receiving. It can also complement short-term, skills-based work by addressing deeper sources of difficulty after acute symptoms are managed. If you are looking for a therapy that addresses meaning, patterns, and emotional awareness rather than quick symptom relief alone, psychodynamic-oriented care may be appropriate. Your readiness to engage in reflective dialogue and to explore uncomfortable feelings will influence how you experience the process.
How to Find a Therapist Who Lists Psychodynamic Therapy
When looking for a therapist who lists Psychodynamic Therapy among their approaches, start by clarifying what you hope to address and what style of therapy you prefer. Read therapist profiles to learn how they describe their orientation, the populations they work with, the languages they offer, and the kinds of issues they highlight. Profiles can give you a sense of whether a therapist frames psychodynamic work in a classical interpretive way or integrates it with other approaches. Pay attention to descriptions of focus areas such as relationship difficulties, mood concerns, or trauma-related symptoms, since these help match clinical emphasis to your needs.
Consider practical elements that affect fit, such as whether you prefer in-person sessions or online conversations, the length and frequency of sessions a therapist typically offers, and how they describe their approach to cultural or identity-related concerns. When you reach out to a therapist, you can ask about how they integrate psychodynamic ideas into their practice, what a typical session looks like with them, and how they approach relational themes. You may also ask about logistical questions like fees and cancellation policies. It can be helpful to try an initial session or two to sense whether the therapist's style feels reflective of your needs and whether you feel understood and respected in the therapeutic relationship.
Finding the right fit is often a process of exploration. Trust your experience in early sessions about whether the therapist's approach and tone align with how you want to work. Over time, psychodynamic therapy can offer you a clearer sense of how past experiences shape present life, and how new insights can lead to sustained changes in how you relate to yourself and others.