Psychodynamic therapy is a depth-oriented form of psychotherapy that focuses on understanding the unconscious patterns shaping your thoughts, emotions, and relationships. It evolved from psychoanalysis, but is more interactive and relational—instead of the therapist remaining a neutral “blank slate,” both therapist and client actively engage in the work in real time.

This approach attends not only to your past, but to what is alive in the present moment: emotions, reactions, and patterns as they emerge within the session. Through this lens, we explore attachment, early experiences, internal conflicts, and the recurring ways you come to experience yourself and others.

Unlike more structured, short-term approaches such as CBT, psychodynamic therapy is oriented toward deeper, long-term change. By making these patterns conscious, the work allows for integration and individuation—creating the possibility for a more intentional and authentic way of living long after therapy ends.

While standard therapy sessions are typically 45–50 minutes, I offer 70-minute sessions to better support depth-oriented work.

Psychodynamic therapy is not focused solely on symptom relief—it explores early experiences, unconscious patterns, and the deeper architecture of the psyche. This kind of work often requires time to move beyond surface-level discussion.

The extended session allows us to stay with what is emerging, rather than stopping just as something meaningful begins to unfold. It creates space to move past what is immediately visible and into what is shaping it beneath the surface—supporting insight, integration, and a more enduring relationship with yourself that continues beyond our work together.

Talk alone tends to stay top-down — you're processing through analysis and language, which is powerful, but it can also let you stay one step removed from what's actually there. Acting works bottom-up: it puts you in your body first, before your mind has time to edit or perform the "acceptable" version of yourself. In a monologue or improv exercise, something can surface that you didn't plan — a feeling, a memory, a version of your voice you don't normally let out. That's not a performance trick; it's a different route into the unconscious than conversation alone can offer.

Do I need any acting experience?

No. This group isn't designed specifically for actors, though you're welcome to be one. Acting here is a creative tool for accessing your unconscious — not a skill you're expected to already have.

This is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. Insurance is not billed directly, though a superbill can be provided for potential reimbursement, depending on your plan.

As the practice is based in Korea, out-of-network coverage may vary. You are encouraged to confirm your benefits directly with your insurance provider.

A limited number of sliding scale appointments are available. For inquiries, please contact contact@drjoo.com.

Yes. Psychosis does not always present as a complete loss of functioning. Some individuals are able to maintain work, relationships, and daily responsibilities while experiencing disturbances in perception and/or thought.

When symptoms are severe or safety is a concern, a higher level of care—such as inpatient or outpatient hospital-based treatment—is often more appropriate, as it provides access to medical support and 24-hour care if needed.

For individuals who are relatively high-functioning, able to reflect on their experiences, and not in acute crisis, outpatient therapy can take different forms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) can help individuals develop a clearer understanding of their experiences, reduce distress, and build practical strategies for managing symptoms. In addition, a psychodynamic approach offers space to explore the psychological meaning, context, and inner experience of psychosis—including how it may relate to one’s emotional life, identity, and internal conflicts.

Depending on the individual, these approaches may be used in different ways—either more structured and symptom-focused, or more exploratory and depth-oriented. This work may be particularly helpful for those whose goal is to learn to live with their symptoms, even if they are distressing, and who are interested in understanding them more deeply.

For individuals whose primary goal is symptom elimination or stabilization, additional support—such as medication or more structured treatment—may be recommended.

Supporting someone with psychosis or a serious mental health condition can be emotionally complex, often involving uncertainty, responsibility, and a shifting sense of role and identity. Many caregivers experience stress, guilt, confusion, or isolation, even when they are functioning well outwardly.

Therapy offers a space to process these experiences, better understand relational patterns, and explore how to remain connected to yourself while supporting someone else. This may include working through emotional boundaries, navigating difficult decisions, and making sense of the impact this role has on your inner world.

The focus is not only on coping, but on helping you sustain yourself in a way that is psychologically grounded and emotionally sustainable over time.

Individual sessions are offered in both English and Korean, and can be conducted in either language, or move fluidly between the two, for a more natural and nuanced expression of your experience.

Group cohorts are also offered in both languages, with each cohort run in a single language so the group can move together. Let me know your preference when you join the waitlist.