Treating Anxiety and Depression at the Root: A Psychodynamic Approach in Orange County
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common reasons people seek therapy—but too often, treatment focuses only on managing symptoms rather than addressing their deeper emotional roots. While strategies like CBT, medication, and mindfulnessMindfulness in CBT involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. It helps individuals be… offer valuable tools for relief, they may not go far enough for those who feel stuck in persistent emotional pain or repeating patterns.
As a psychodynamic psychologist in Orange County, I offer an alternative approach—one that doesn’t just aim to manageanxiety and depression, but to understand why they’re there in the first place. This depth-oriented work helps clients get to the core of their suffering, uncovering the unconscious beliefs, relational wounds, and emotional conflicts that fuel distress.
Anxiety and Depression: Signals, Not Just Symptoms
From a psychodynamic lens, anxiety and depression are not simply chemical imbalances or isolated disorders. They are complex emotional signals—ways the psyche expresses unresolved inner tension, unmet needs, and long-standing internal conflicts.
Anxiety often emerges from the tension between what we feel and what we believe we’re allowed to feel. Depression may stem from ungrieved losses, chronic self-criticism, internalized shame, or feelings of helplessness rooted in early experiences. These emotions don’t arise in a vacuum—they are shaped by our developmental histories and relational templates, many of which live outside of conscious awareness.
Rather than suppressing these symptoms, psychodynamic therapy invites us to listen to them.
Going Deeper: The Psychodynamic Process
Psychodynamic therapy is not a quick fix—but it is a lasting one. In our work together, we slow down and explore what may be hidden beneath the surface:
- What were your earliest experiences of care, love, and safety?
- How do you treat yourself internally—and where did you learn that?
- What relational patterns keep replaying in your life?
- What emotions have been disowned or exiled?
Through the therapeutic relationshipThe Therapeutic Relationship is the bond formed between the therapist and client, which plays a cruc…, we begin to illuminate these unconscious dynamics, making room for new ways of feeling, relating, and being. This process often brings relief—not because symptoms are forced to stop, but because their underlying sources are finally given the attention and understanding they need.
Why This Matters in Orange County
In a high-achieving, image-conscious area like Orange County, it’s easy to feel pressure to “have it all together.” Many people look successful on the outside while quietly battling chronic anxietyChronic anxiety refers to ongoing, excessive worry and fear that persists for an extended period, of…, emptiness, or low self-worth. There can be a deep loneliness in feeling like you can’t show what’s really going on inside.
Psychodynamic therapy offers a private, compassionate space to break that silence. It’s a place where there’s no need to perform—only to be curious, honest, and gradually open to the truth of your emotional life.
The Value of Out-of-Network Care
Many of my clients choose to see me privately rather than through an insurance panel—and for good reason. Working out-of-network allows for:
- Greater privacy and control over your care
- A more personalized, unhurried approach
- The freedom to work on your timeline, not the insurance company’s
- A focus on quality and depth over volume and quick symptom relief
If you’re considering therapy, I encourage you to think not only about cost—but about the kind of care that will genuinely meet you where you are and support where you want to go.
Final Thoughts
Anxiety and depression don’t just happen. They arise from the intricate emotional narratives of our lives—stories that deserve to be heard, understood, and ultimately transformed. If you’re ready to look beneath the surface and engage in meaningful, lasting work, psychodynamic therapy may be the path forward.
Located in Orange County, I specialize in helping individuals who are tired of short-term solutions and are ready for real change. If this sounds like you, I invite you to reach out.
You don’t have to face this alone—and you don’t have to stay stuck.
