Depth psychotherapy, also known as depth psychology, is particularly suited for people who are seeking self-awareness, personal growth and a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of their psychological struggles. It is an approach that emphasizes going below the surface and getting at the root cause of your concerns in order to bring about healing that is lasting and complete. Depth psychology believes it is important to fully understand the complexity of your challenges and how they came about in order to set the stage for changes to occur.

At the heart of depth psychotherapy is the therapeutic relationship, which is built on safety and trust. The relationship provides a compassionate place where you can explore your life at a deeper level, and confront aspects or memories that may be painful or challenging. Looking at your life deeply in this way may also help you discover positive aspects and new potentials that you may not have previously realized. Depth psychotherapy emphasizes that introspection and deeper levels of processing are necessary for healing and transformation to occur. The process leads to breakthroughs in understanding and meaningful insights. Often, the courage to take action on those insights comes right along with the process as well.

Unlike many other therapeutic approaches, depth psychotherapy recognizes that our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions are also influenced by unconscious factors that operate beneath our awareness, and may affect us without us even realizing it. Part of the work of depth psychotherapy is to bring these unconscious elements to light so they can be worked through or resolved. Examples of when it might be necessary to examine unconscious processes or past experiences include recurring unhealthy relationship patterns, self-defeating behaviors, and unexplained episodes of depression. Depth psychotherapy uses a variety of techniques and methods to uncover and work through patterns and unresolved issues. These practices not only facilitate healing but also nurture positive aspects that help us grow in new and meaningful ways.