Long-Term Psychodynamic Therapy
Journey inward to find meaning and wellbeing in life.
Daniel Gutterman, PSYD
My Approach
I believe that therapy works when it feels supportive and collaborative. When we begin working together, it is my first priority for you to feel heard and understood. I strive to be authentic, genuine, and empathic, while making sure the therapeutic process feels like teamwork. Above all, I aim to develop trust and safety, and will always make sure we are working in your best interests.
In practice, I have been trained psychodynamically, with a relational approach that focuses on the impact of personal history as well as focusing on relationships and emotional functioning. Overall, my approach to therapy depends on what is needed in order to accommodate your specific concerns. By identifying patterns, processing intense emotions, and working through difficult conflicts, I hope to work with you to decrease distress and suffering, increase personal fulfillment, and consider how your relationships can be more productive and enriching. Overall, It is my hope for you to feel more in control of your life by accruing insight into your past experiences while also considering how your hopes for the future can be brought into reach.
Education & Training
I am a postdoctoral clinician specializing in trauma, intense emotions, difficulty in relationships, as well as anxiety and depression. I graduated from Yeshiva University in New York City with a doctorate degree in adult clinical psychology. I have received training in providing long-term adult psychotherapy across many different settings, including NYU’s Postdoctoral Institute, The National Institute for the Psychotherapies, community mental health clinics, and college counseling. I am currently undergoing a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Rose City Counseling Center in Pasadena, where I am receiving advanced training and supervision in psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Specialty Areas of Practice
Trauma
When we’ve had challenging or traumatizing life experiences, the stress and symptoms that arise afterword can be life-altering and impact how we feel and move through the world. Maybe you’re struggling with intrusive thoughts, get easily angry or overwhelmed, feel avoidant or unsafe, or experience a general sense of disconnection from the world around you. Perhaps you do your best to forget certain memories or periods of life, or put forth extra effort to ensure nothing of the sort will ever happen again. This can feel like a ‘new normal’.
In therapy, processing this pain and regaining a sense of freedom and safety is possible, helping you live your life on your terms again. I take a trauma-informed stance to therapy, working to establish a stabilizing, trusting space to process what you’ve experienced, consider how it’s continued to affect you over time, and help you develop skills for coping and building a sense of resilience.
Interpersonal Difficulties
Do you have a difficult time feeling close and connected with others? Do people often frustrate or intimidate you? Perhaps relationships often leave you feeling anxious or upset. This might result in an increasing sense of isolation, angst, or hopelessness. Throughout our lives, our ways of interacting with others typically start to shape into patterns, which in some cases, can easily result in a continual feeling of failure and disappointment.
Together, identifying and addressing these dynamics is the first step in making meaningful change in your relationships. We can consider your needs in relationships and how to best get them met in a manner that is sustainable for you - including getting to know yourself, identifying your sensitivities, strengths, and values, as well as refining communication skills and negotiating appropriate boundaries.
Life Satisfaction
If you’re feeling lost or overwhelmed by the direction your life is heading, you’re not alone. Maybe you feel like every day is repetitive, where not much lands as particularly meaningful or worthwhile. Or, perhaps you are unsure where things are headed or if you’re living the life you envisioned for yourself. Identity evolves over time, which can lead us to feel out of step with our current circumstances. Additionally, life’s responsibilities can oftentimes feel demanding, limiting, or imposing - leaving little opportunity to reflect or make significant change.
Therapy can help clarify and address these concerns through meaningful exploration and evaluation. This often includes aligning your personal values with your goals, considering your strengths, and taking steps to chart a way forward that feels fulfilling and worthwhile.