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What we work with
Many psychological problems and challenges we handle ourselves, while others remain and are difficult to get a grip on — such as anxiety, stress, sleep difficulties, racing thoughts, depression, low self-esteem, and relational conflicts. In such cases, it can be helpful to receive support from the outside to create clarity and break rigid patterns. In therapy, we work on understanding the underlying causes of the problems and symptoms you are experiencing.
The conversations begin with a thorough exploration of the causes behind your problems/symptoms. These issues arise when we struggle to manage the emotions working within us. Instead of being able to work with these emotions freely, flexibly, and with self-determination, we experience symptoms of anxiety or respond inappropriately with defence mechanisms. These are unconscious automatisms that appear in emotionally charged situations, creating anxiety or defences — driving you somewhere you don’t want to be.
These are habits developed throughout life that lock you into specific patterns in emotional situations. They are destructive in relation to what you truly want.
Therapy sessions
The first session typically lasts 2 hours, allowing us to delve deeply into the problems you bring — to get to the core of what drives them. Subsequent sessions last between 1 and 1½ hours; this is agreed upon on an ongoing basis.
The aim of the therapy is to create a safe environment in which you can simply be — while also meeting what lies at the root of your difficulties.
We carefully explore your reactions and ways of coping with challenges, so you can identify what is holding you back. We work through unresolved emotional conflicts and mobilize your inner resources.
Emphasis is placed on collaboration and intensity in each session, where defence mechanisms and avoidance strategies are addressed, while anxiety and stress are reduced — so you can remain present with your emotions, allowing them to work for you.
The Method – Dynamic Psychotherapy
I use an evidence-based psychodynamic method, which is tailored to your specific needs and challenges. The psychotherapeutic work is based on Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP).
This is a well-established psychodynamic method, scientifically documented for the treatment of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic disorders. For example, short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy was recommended in 2016 by the Danish Health Authority’s national guidelines as a treatment method for moderate to severe depression (see also www.istdpinstitute.com or www.reachingthroughresistance.com).
I regularly record sessions on video — but only with your prior consent. The purpose is to improve the effectiveness of the treatment by receiving supervision on the video sessions from colleagues who are also licensed psychologists. The recordings are destroyed after supervision. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and, as a member of the Danish Psychological Association, I am bound by professional confidentiality, subject to ethical guidelines, and compliant with GDPR regulations.
