Individual psychodynamic psychotherapy is central to your care here at Riggs. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is an intensive treatment in which you and your therapist work together to better understand your emotional experience, relationship patterns, and conflicting desires, with a goal of freeing you to make choices and build relationships that support you in pursuing your goals.

You’ll work collaboratively with one of our nearly 30 doctoral-level clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, meeting four times each week (with the exception of holidays, vacations, or illnesses) to make sense of your past and present, and to understand the meanings of symptoms and the sources of suffering in your life.

How this unfolds is unique to each individual and usually includes exploring your personal history, reflecting on your present-day experiences (including what happens in the therapy relationship itself), and considering your aspirations and goals. The developing relationship between you and your therapist is the basis of a process of learning, unlearning, relearning, and growth. People who bring themselves fully to the therapy often feel deeply understood, sometimes for the first time; but the process can move slowly and it can be unsettling at times. This is why we offer a supportive community with other clinical services and opportunities for work, play, creativity, and quiet reflection between therapy sessions.