What Happens When You Call for Psychotherapy or Psychoanalysis?

What happens when you call for psychotherapy or psychoanalysis or evaluation?

People often want to know, what happens when you call for evaluation, psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis in Washington DC, with me?

Whether you are calling for psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, executive coaching or just seeking a thoughtful evaluation as to what sort of help might be most useful to you, I’ll ask you to tell me a bit about yourself — how are you are hoping I might be of help? You may be calling about relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome, work-life balance, workaholism, writer’s block, feeling lost or stuck or you might wish to deepen your understanding of yourself. I will attempt to learn more about you as a unique individual. Toward this end, I’ll ask you questions. This allows me to assess whether I think I can be helpful and, if so, how.

This phone conversation will allow you to determine whether you would like to meet with me. If I feel that your challenges are within my wheelhouse, I’ll ask if you’d like to set-up and appointment. Or, if I don’t have the requisite expertise that you need, I’ll tell you so – and, I’ll do my best to recommend someone who does. Most importantly, if you feel that you would like to see me, and I feel that I can be of help, we can set-up a time to meet.

Also, you may have questions for me. Often, people are interested in learning something about my professional background. You may know that I am a Training and Supervising Analyst and a Board Certified Psychoanalyst. However, you may want to know a bit about me. Most importantly, you will wish to know whether I have the expertise to help you.

Sometimes people are calling to seek out information about my fees and their insurance. When you call, feel free to ask me about my fees. Regarding insurance, I am an out-of-network provider,  this means people pay me, directly, and file for reimbursement with their health insurance company. Therefore, if you planning to use your out-of-network insurance, it’s a good idea to reach out to your insurance company to clarify the nature of your benefits.

More about what happens during the first session

I see people for 45 minute sessions. During the initial consultation, I’ll ask what prompted you to reach out at this time. For me, the better I can get to know you the more helpful I can be. So, I will want to learn as much as I can about you. I will ask you to tell me about yourself, past, present – and, your hopes for the future.

Sometimes people have thought a lot about what has led them to seek consultation at this time. Perhaps you have had previous psychodynamic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis or you are very “psychologically-minded.” Maybe you are the kind of person who thinks in terms of metaphors, and patterns; and who has ideas about what “makes you tick.” If this is the situation, I am eager to hear what you have to say.

Or, you may be one of those folks who hasn’t really focused much on their feelings. You may be uncertain about why you are seeking consultation at this time. Rather, you may only be aware of difficulties with:

  • intimate relationships
  • family troubles
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • low self-esteem
  • anxiety about abandonment
  • the stress inherent in being a physician or health care professional
  • the challenges intrinsic to being a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, counselor or mental health professional
  • loneliness
  • the imposter syndrome
  • difficulty sleeping
  • school or workplace dissatisfaction or frustration
  • a feeling of being lost or stuck
  • trouble with self-assertion
  • an “allergic” reaction to work or school
  • a gnawing sense of unhappiness
  • a curiosity about yourself and why you do the things you do

If this is the situation, I am very interested in learning more about what that has been like for you. We are all unique individuals. One thing that most of the people who I see share in common is an interest in learning more about themselves with an eye toward leading more satisfying lives. I will try to help you deepen your understanding of your feelings and your thoughts. Often, increased self-awareness leads to greater satisfaction and an improved capacity to focus on life and work goals.

What sorts of questions can you anticipate?

I will ask questions about what you are telling me. I will try to understand you in your individual, family and cultural context. Not only do I want to learn more about your hopes for the future, I would like to know more about what’s going on in your life today. Who are the key people in your world? What’s important to you? How do you spend your time; and, how do you feel about it? In addition to the “here and now.” I want to know what it was like for you in your family, school and community, growing up. To me, your past, present and future ~ and, your particular feelings about them are vitally important.

Also, I seek to understand you in a broader cultural context. For this reason, not only am I interested in your personal journey I feel that your intergenerational history is enriches your story.  Whether you were born in the States, are an immigrant, a child of immigrants, or a grandchild of immigrants, I’d like to hear how that history has touched you. I believe culture, ethnicity and race – are integrally related to our identities. I have found that learning more about these identities can open many doors to creativity and intimacy.

At the end of the first session, typically, two things happen. First, you have been asking yourself, “is this the person with whom I’d like to work?”

Second, I will have been trying to deepen my understanding of you. I am asking myself, can I be helpful here? And, if so, how? The most common recommendation I make is that we do a more extended evaluation. At the end of several sessions, I will tell you how I understand your difficulties and how I feel that I can be of help. Please note that you may ask me to give you a “diagnostic code” for insurance purposes, and I will do so. However,  this is not how I think about the people who I see. Rather, I try to understand the experiences that have led you down your current path. I try to understand you in the context of your strengths and struggles. Beyond this, I will be thinking about how we can use your strengths to help you understand and master your struggles.

Sometimes people tell me that this extended evaluation is more like a short-term, psychotherapy. I agree with that appraisal. Occasionally, this extended evaluation is sufficient to address your concerns. However, more often, people who seek me out are searching for a deeper, more abiding, ongoing understanding of themselves. They have been struggling with certain challenges or they have been unhappy for many years; they seek a thorough going approach that will help them to find a deeper resolution to their difficulties. Frequently, this entails psychodynamic therapy or psychoanalysis.

If you’d like to speak with me, feel free to give me a call at 240.483.3530, text me or send me an email [drlynnfriedman(at)gmail.com]. Please spell your first and last name and clearly articulate your phone number  (I do want to return your call). Typically, I will respond within 24 hours or sooner. I am serious about protecting your confidentiality. Therefore, I ask that you do not share personal information via email or text.

My office is now about two miles from the Washington, DC, border, nestled, within a cul de sac, just off Massachusetts Avenue. Your call is welcome.

I'm interested in exploring a consultation with you, what's my next step?

I provide psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, clinical consultation, supervision & executive coaching. If you are seeking consultation from a psychologist, psychoanalyst, in DC, feel free to call me: 240.483.3530.