Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for Adults

There are lots of reasons why people seek therapy.

But what everyone on this search has in common is the pain they are feeling.

This pain can manifest as symptoms of anxiety, depression, or anger that paralyze or cause extended suffering to you and those around you.

Having a trained listener who will respect your suffering can help you find ways out of that extreme discomfort by identifying repetitive patterns of choices and thought processes, deeply exploring the function of those patterns, and finally gaining autonomy to lead your own life.

Mary* was once such a client who came to me seeking help.

Mary is a successful professional who came to her first session feeling empty. She was financially comfortable but disconnected from her friends, husband, and children.

The first anniversary of her mother’s death was approaching, and she realized she’d never had a chance to grieve the loss properly. So together, we helped her process the feelings she had to bury in the past to keep moving on in life. For the first time, she was able to cry about it.

Six months into treatment, she was surprised by her husband asking for a divorce but not shattered. She realized that she could only accept this significant transition because she could previously process the loss of her mother, which otherwise could be added to the difficult feeling of abandonment.

In a safe space, Mary felt supported to go through this process.

The first step in both transition processes started with the realization that her feelings mattered, that her suffering was real, and that her own internal coping mechanisms forced her to disconnect so these losses could be bearable.

By counting herself in the world, Mary can now make her own choices, not those dictated by her family’s financial well-being. She’s emotionally reconnected with those around her and is excited for the next chapter of her life.

Mary felt supported to navigate her struggles and come out stronger on the other side. And you can have the same support.

Please reach out by calling (773) 219-2152, or e-mailing leilaypsychoanalysis@gmail.com.

*Name and story are composite narratives and do not reflect an actual client.