Psychodynamic Therapy for the patterns beneath the surface
If you want to understand the deeper pattern in what keeps happening, I use psychodynamic therapy to listen for it. We can pay attention to how old experiences still shape the way you feel, expect, and relate now.
How I use it
Kristy Rosendorf, LMHC
I use psychodynamic therapy to listen for recurring themes, old expectations, and the meanings people have had to build around difficult experiences. We pay attention to how the past may still show up in present relationships, self-talk, and reactions. The work is thoughtful and relational, and it can move at a pace that allows the pattern to emerge clearly. Depending on what you bring in, we may focus on one relationship, one feeling, or a broader life pattern.
We listen for what keeps repeating, even when the details change.
Who it tends to suit
People often come in with questions that go beyond one immediate problem. They may notice the same emotional reactions, relationship dynamics, or self-protective habits appearing again and again. Sometimes the struggle is hard to name, but it feels familiar in a way that keeps showing up across different parts of life. The work can be especially useful when someone wants to understand not just what is happening, but why it has this shape.
- I keep ending up in the same kind of situation.
- I react strongly before I understand why.
- I feel like my past is still running the show.
- I know something deeper is going on, but I cannot quite name it.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions are about getting a fuller sense of the pattern and what brings you in now. I will ask about what you have noticed over time, what feels most charged, and what you want to understand better, and you do not need to have everything mapped out ahead of time.
Text Kristy to schedule a free 15-minute video or phone consultation. Kristy usually replies within 1–2 business days.
What I use it for
- Trauma & PTSDFor people carrying the effects of trauma.
- Anxiety & DepressionFor people worn down by worry or low mood.
- Self-Esteem & RelationshipsFor people stuck in self-doubt or repeating relationship patterns.
- Addiction & RecoveryFor people trying to stay steady in recovery.
- Autism & NeurodivergenceFor people who want support that fits how they process the world.
- Stress & Emotional RegulationFor people who feel stretched thin or easily overwhelmed.
Questions people ask
Do I need to talk about my whole childhood?
Not necessarily. We can work with what is relevant to the pattern you are noticing now.
Is psychodynamic therapy only for long-term work?
The pace depends on what you bring in and what we are paying attention to. We can use the first sessions to understand what feels most useful to explore.
Will you just sit back and listen?
Listening is part of it, but so is paying close attention to what is recurring and what it might mean. The work is active and thoughtful.
What if I do not know why I keep repeating things?
That is a very good reason to start. We can look for the pattern together without expecting you to have the answer already.
Talk it through with Kristy
Text Kristy to schedule a free 15-minute video or phone consultation.