Understanding yourself is the first step toward change

What Is Psychodynamic Therapy and How Does It Work?

Elizabeth Miraglia, LICSW · April 10, 2026 · 8 min read

Unlike approaches that focus solely on symptoms, psychodynamic therapy goes deeper — exploring the unconscious patterns that shape your relationships, decisions, and emotional life. If you've ever wondered why you keep ending up in the same cycles, this approach may offer answers. Rooted in over a century of clinical research, psychodynamic therapy helps you understand not just what you feel, but why — and what to do about it.