Megan Rundel, PhD · PSY 20530 · (510) 597-1261

Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is an intensive treatment, occurring three to five times weekly, for a wide variety of longstanding emotional problems including anxiety, depression, work difficulties, troubled relationships, sexual concerns, or problems of self-esteem. Psychoanalysis is also often a treatment of choice for those looking to enhance creativity or discover more meaning and purpose in life. It is based on the belief that individuals are often unaware of factors that determine their patterns of relationships, emotions and behavior. These unconscious factors can sometimes express themselves in the form of specific symptoms or emotional problems. Difficulties such as blocks in creativity or a sense of inner emptiness are also often due to unconscious factors. Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic partnership focused on helping each patient become aware of underlying sources of his or her difficulties, not just intellectually, but emotionally, in ways that lead to deep and lasting changes in the patient's life. Because the analyst and client meet so often, the therapeutic relationship itself becomes a fulcrum of exploration and change. A consultation can help determine whether psychoanalysis is the appropriate treatment for you.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a less intensive treatment that involves meeting once or twice per week. It is best suited for people with situational difficulties and for those whose problems are recent and less long-standing. It is based on the same principles as psychoanalysis and is geared to helping people understand themselves better and gain relief from troubling symptoms.