We are grounded in psychoanalytic theory and tailor treatment to the needs of the child, adolescent, adult, or family. We are active, reflective, collaborative, and often encourage increased frequency with appointments. Creativity in our method, involvement of stakeholders (e.g., parents, siblings, schools, child care settings, etc.), and offering a wide variety of comprehensive services makes our treatment unique. We hope to offer guidance and insight, lead by example, and evaluate the etiology of struggling and healing from a holistic approach.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an empirically-based, non-manualized form of treatment. It is specifically tailored to the unique needs and experiences of each patient. Through a deeper understanding of oneself, particularly in the context of someone else, one is invigorated with a sense of personal fulfillment, confidence, psychological freedom, creativity, and interpersonal satisfaction. We view psychotherapy as a developmental process aimed at understanding the effects of early experiences on current relationships, perceptions of self, success, and overall well-being. Cultural experiences, relevant developmental phases, the therapeutic relationship, and mutually agreed upon goals are of utmost importance and will guide treatment. For more information about psychoanalytic psychotherapy and efficacy, please visit the corresponding links.

While we remain grounded in psychoanalytic theory, our practice has evolved to include clinicians who utilize alternative forms of psychotherapy to augment treatment. Empirically-based treatment such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) are behaviorally-oriented and solution-focused modalities that work particularly well with specific clinical presentations.

We have encountered unique success working as a team to support patients with both psychoanalytic and behavioral treatments. When clinically warranted, patients have the opportunity to work in a collaborative, non-directive, and exploratory manner with a psychoanalytic psychologist and a solution-focused orientation with cognitive behavioral clinician to address short-term, pragmatic goals. This approach allows for patients to learn important psychological coping strategies while simultaneously getting to the root cause of symptoms. Regardless of the theoretical approach, all clinicians at Sentiero are human first and thus emphasize the therapeutic relationship as one of the most important factors in the facilitation of growth and healing.