Adult Services at the Center for Self Development
The Center for Self Development provides individual psychodynamic psychotherapy, couples therapy, and psychological assessment to adults.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a talk therapy for psychological problems derived from psychoanalysis. The goal of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to relieve individuals of psychological suffering. Many different psychological problems can be helped by psychodynamic psychotherapy. Some of these problems include: depression; low self-esteem; anxiety; relationship problems; feelings of falling apart; worthlessness; hopelessness; identity problems; results of sexual and other physical or emotional abuse in the past or present; hearing voices; paranoia; long-lasting or extreme anger; difficulties at work.
Many aspects of how we operate in the world are determined by feeling, thought, and relationship patterns repeated over and over again. These patterns are often engrained in us early in life. Psychotherapy provides a space for you and your therapist to examine and alter these patterns as they happen in your life. This is accomplished by providing a safe place to talk and by uncovering that which is less noticeable. Often, once patterns of the mind and behavior are brought to light and understood more fully and openly, they cease to be repeated and alternative, healthier ways of being emerge. The result is often one of positive change in feelings and thoughts about the self and in an increase in secure and fulfilling relationships.
Our experience has shown us that many people who are able to self-reflect honestly and take account of their choices are able to benefit from psychodynamic psychotherapy. Psychodynamic psychotherapy can be effective with individuals varying widely in the level and nature of their problems.
Couples therapy involves a processing and overcoming of the obstacles that prevent full and loving relationships. With the therapist, the couple learns to honestly view the ways they are interacting with each other and what might be psychologically causing them to relate to each other in this fashion. Often, once these patterns are recognized, the couple can work on replacing their negative behaviors and feelings toward one another with more loving ones. The process of couples therapy can lead to more satisfying and closer relationships.
Psychological Assessment is the process of administering psychological tests to an individual and interpreting these tests in order to obtain a picture of the way a person's mind works or how they behave. Common referral sources for testing include: other practitioners; the court system; and higher-educational institutions.