Registered Psychotherapist
CTP Dipl
Psychodynamic psychotherapy helps us to face, understand and change what we have not been able to on our own. Prior to entering therapy, we may feel baffled to find ourselves stuck in situations and behaviours that frustrate us. This happens because the unconscious forces that propel us are outside of our awareness. It takes time, and often the insight of a trained other, to bring these forces to light. While these patterns and behaviours block us from a life, a career, or relationships that we desire, our psyche is doing its best to protect us; from harm, humiliation, or from feeling emotions that may seem unfathomable.
As a psychodynamic psychotherapist I am trained to listen for and to help you discover on your own terms what it is that you desire. This is done with curiosity, care and consent, at a pace that you can handle. With empathy and compassion, we will uncover what your psyche has worked so hard to keep hidden. Met gently by a trained professional, these parts of you may slowly come to realize that the danger they have imagined is not what it seems. As you become more free to express yourself without shame and judgement, my hope is that you will begin to move through the world with courage, as your true self.
Our work usually begins with a thorough history-taking. This introduction looks different for each client; some feel it is complete after one session, while others spend more time here. The history-taking helps us to build a foundation for our work together, by discovering how you have come to understand your own life from its beginning until now. Some clients feel it is important to start their history-taking a generation or two before they they were born; this is encouraged if it feels pertinent.
Once the history-taking is complete, we start each session in the here-and-now. The more comfortable a client feels saying whatever comes to mind, without censoring themselves, the more free we will be to explore the truth of their life together. Each session is a chance for us to explore the unique collage of your inner world. Dream analysis is welcomed enthusiastically in our work together.
You will probably notice an increase of synchronicities (meaningful coincidences) between the material you bring to our sessions and the world around you. Your life wants to be communicated with. It is waiting for you to initiate a meaningful dialogue.
In addition to working psychodynamically with individuals, I work dyadically with pairs of twins. Twin relationships can be complicated and high-conflict. My approach to working with twin dyads is informed by my training in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), a short-term model that focuses on repairing attachment wounds and fostering mutual understanding. This work is also inevitably informed by my psychodynamic training.
With an academic background studying literature, I pay special attention to the magical, romantic, and uncanny aspects of each client’s story. I look to myth and archetype as repetition on a collective scale, and consider such reference points as I listen to each client narrate their history. I believe that the work of psychodynamic psychotherapy is inherently spiritual and pertains to the soul, and I approach this work with reverence. I am a queer person and an identical twin; these identities allow me to approach my work as a psychotherapist from a unique perspective. I bring warmth, curiosity and humour to my work with clients.
You will probably not know whether I am the right therapist for you just from reading my profile. I will be happy to meet with you for a free consultation to assess whether we are the right fit. I encourage you to take a look at my website to get a better sense of how I work: www.a-world-inside-psychotherapy.com.
My fee for individual psychodynamic therapy is $140/session. I typically see clients once a week for 50 minutes. I currently have availability both in-person and online. My office is conveniently located close to Bathurst Station in Toronto.
If you are ready to book a free consultation, please contact me at lisabellstedt@gmail.com.
556 Palmerston Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6G 2P7