Psychodynamic Therapists in Durham, NC

*I AM NOT CURENTLY TAKING NEW CLIENTS* I have a relational approach to therapy and my work is informed by psychodynamic theories. I believe that long-term growth and change become a reality when we are able to make informed choices and discover greater authenticity in our daily lives. I believe that you can find immediate relief from some of your distress by using mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral techniques. I have experience working with groups and individuals with mood and anxiety difficulties, personality disorders, histories of violence or trauma, and anger management difficulties.

You made it to the most difficult part: reaching out. Beginning to look for support can often be the hardest step toward meaning, connection, and emotional wellness. I would be honored to hold space for you. Some people seek therapy to have life to feel more fulfilling and to get closer to their authentic selves. Others may be struggling with emotions and stress, and want strategies to reduce the effects of grief or trauma or dealing with internal pain of varying kinds. I enjoy working with people seeking these fundamental needs in life, using an open, relational approach, joining with people on their journey.

I am a therapist who believes in the authenticity of each person's struggles as they encounter them in their journey through life. I seek to help others in the curing of their souls through psychotherapy. I make every effort to provide a therapeutic environment that is non-judgmental, supportive, safe, nurturing and empathic. Making the decision to come to counseling can be difficult and overwhelming. It's a privilege for me to be present with you in this process. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email or call.

Christina has more than 22 years of experience and specializes in women’s issues, codependency recovery, eating disorders, inner child work, and trauma recovery utilizing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. She provides a non-judgmental, supportive approach to therapeutic relationships. Christina utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, relational trauma repair (psychodrama), inner child work, Bowen family systems theory, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

I’M SEEING CLIENTS OUTSIDE, adjacent to my office (see photos below), with propane gas heaters & electric blankets. ___________________________________ My therapeutic style is warm, genuine, accepting and collaborative.

I can’t imagine how it feels to be you. You may be struggling and that is why you are looking here. On a hamster wheel or in a pit? I believe that you are doing the best you can. You have hopes and dreams. You want to enjoy life. I want these for you, too. I offer individual therapy, parental coaching, family coaching, and a parenting group. Feel accepted and understood. Develop new skills. Cultivate trust and belief in yourself and others. Learn to calm yourself and activate yourself. Begin to untie the knots of your pretzel, your parenting, relational, addiction, depressive or anxious dilemma. Exchange confidence for fear.

I enjoy working with individuals who are seeking lasting healing and therapeutic change. You may be experiencing depression, anxiety, or overwhelm that is signaling the need for a different way of living and approaching your life. You may have past trauma and need a safe space to work through this. Old patterns, wounding and trauma live in our bodies and show up in many ways including in relationships, feelings, thoughts, beliefs & body sensations. We will work together to heal and integrate these through a therapeutic approach that is relational, embodied, spirit-oriented and attentive to the culture and larger systems we live in.

Psychotherapy should be collaborative and flexible, based on you and your specific story. Whether you have been through things in your life that are just coming to the surface or are feeling stuck and struggling to find joy and connection, I can help you gain clarity and find new ways to move through old challenges. Together, we will work toward deepening your connection to your core self and engaging more fully in the life you want. I provide an affirming and supportive space to process family of origin issues, grief, loss, relationship struggles and feelings of worry or anxiety.

Do you struggle with burnout at your job, even though it's something you love? Are you having trouble balancing what you want with what others ask of you? Are you the person that everyone else comes to for help, but you don’t quite know how to help yourself? Or, are you facing a difficult life change, and you're not sure how to manage it while facing other responsibilities? If any of these ring true, know that you've already taken a step to help yourself by seeking therapy. Through our work together, we will develop a comprehensive plan that allows you to move towards what you want, rather than away from what you fear.

I work with clients to explore the unconscious and increase psychological flexibility through focusing on emotions, interpersonal relationships, exploring past experiences, and identifying recurring patterns. I work to assist my clients with emotional regulation, cultivating personal insight, developing agency, and increasing self-esteem. I value treating all clients with unconditional positive regard, believing in the power of the therapeutic relationship as a change agent. I aim to create an empathic and non-judgmental space for clients to be honest and vulnerable.

What do I do for a living? I meet with people and talk about the most intimate aspect of their lives. It's not a bad job and I love the work I get to do. While I often draw from a variety of psychological techniques, I am firmly rooted in psychodynamic /psychoanalytic theory which is a really fancy way of saying I believe authentic relationships bring about sincere change in people. As such, I work hard to create a trusting, comfortable space to help clients explore their goals and experience sincere growth.

I have 15 years of experience working with clients with trauma and mood disorders. I also work with people struggling with eating disorders, grief/loss and life transitions. I speak Spanish and have a strong interest in working with Hispanic/Latinx communities. I am a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. I find tremendous benefit in assisting people with identifying various forms of oppression (e.g., racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.) and understanding how these impact their lives. In my practice, I focus on helping people to free themselves from the effects of difficult, early and ongoing life experiences.

My highest priority is to respect the integrity, faith and values of each person. I work with a variety of people and have an extensive psychodynamic and psychoanalytic background, advanced degrees in Psychology and Theology, and decades of clinical experience with persons and families in crisis. I welcome clients from any (or no) faith tradition. I have decades of experience working with people struggling with loss, grief, anxiety, depression and relationship issues. Visit me at www.drdavidfranzen.com. I'd be honored to walk alongside you as you journey toward greater wholeness, and health.

I offer clients a collaborative approach to address whatever may have brought them to my door. My relationally focused psychodynamic style supports the idea that healing occurs through our connection with others. By providing a safe and solid therapeutic relationship to a person, that person begins to experience a greater range of perspective regarding their own life and the lives around them. With increased self-awareness, individuals are able to recognize that they have more choices in their lives. I have found this to be true regardless of what obstacles a person may be facing.

Pronouns: he/they. I am a Licensed Psychologist with about 10 years of experience providing therapy and testing. As an openly queer and trans person of color, my experiences of both privilege and oppression greatly inform my clinical practice. I infuse themes of multiculturalism, social justice, intersectionality, liberation, and feminism into therapy as needed. I have worked with the LGBTQ+ community for most of my clinical career, and have training & a particular passion for working with trans, non-binary, and gender diverse clients. Sex positive and kink, sex worker & poly friendly. Neurodiversity-, trauma-, and HAES-informed.