What is Psychodynamic Therapy? A Q&A With Brooke Pomerantz, LCSW
Psychodynamic therapy is a reflective, open-ended approach that looks at both the past and present. In this Q&A, Brooke shares how this work unfolds, what it can address, and why she finds it so meaningful
Q: What is psychodynamic therapy, and how is it different from other approaches?
Brooke: Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a nondirective, open-ended approach where a client shares what feels most alive in the session and we follow that lead organically. Unlike more directive or manualized treatments, it does not usually have a set number of sessions. Someone may come in to address one issue and, once it resolves, choose to continue exploring other concerns. The focus is less on a timeline and more on what it takes to work through what’s bringing them into therapy.
Psychodynamic therapy is built on the idea that we are guided by thoughts and feelings outside of our awareness. The work is to bring aspects of ourselves that are unconscious into consciousness. Early life experiences, especially with caregivers, are understood to be formative in shaping our identities and personality structure.
Q: How can exploring the past help you feel better in the present?
Brooke: By looking at the past, we can see how and why we developed the way we did. Many coping strategies were adaptive at the time but may no longer serve us. Developing compassion for these patterns creates freedom to try new ways of living and relating in the here and now. This process opens the possibility for lasting change.
Q: What types of issues does psychodynamic therapy work well for?
Brooke: I have found it effective in addressing depression, anxiety, mood dysregulation, anger, psychosis, personality disorders, and relational or developmental trauma.
Q: What’s your style when using psychodynamic techniques in session?
Brooke: When someone comes into treatment, we begin with what feels most pressing for them. I listen and respond not only to the content of what is being shared, but also to what is communicated nonverbally, what is not being said, what emotions are present, and what may be expressed less consciously. I help clients notice unconscious narratives that guide how they move through the world, and we examine these together. I also pay attention to my own emotional responses as another way of understanding what might be happening in the room.
Q: How does insight lead to lasting change?
Brooke: The client notices a block or barrier while the therapist offers safety. The pair then speak about it in plain language. Change feels hard and it takes weeks or months. The client meets a new experience or a new person and the brain records the event. The client repeats the event and the brain stores it again. The pattern hardens and the growth stays.
Q: Do you combine psychodynamic therapy with other modalities?
Brooke: The core of my training is psychodynamic relational psychotherapy. I add other tools when the situation asks for them. I give CBT homework sheets, DBT skills, mindfulness minutes or ACT values lists. I also invite the client to sleep enough, draw, walk outside, meet friends or speak on stage.
Q: What do you find most meaningful about this kind of work?
Brooke: I love this work because I have seen how it can lead to profound and lasting change. People experience decreased suffering, greater joy, an improved ability to cope with adversity, and a deeper sense of aliveness in the world.
Brooke Pomerantz, LCSW, is a licensed therapist based in Oakland, with 18 years of experience. This Q&A was recorded during a live interview on Wednesday, June 26, 2025. Brooke is serving clients across California, New York, and Indiana. She works with adults navigating depression, burnout, and identity-related challenges.
Explore Brooke’s full therapy practice here »
Learn more about depression therapy with Brooke »Brooke Pomerantz, LCSW
Psychotherapy, Supervision, and Consultation
Licensed in CA, NY, and IN
(415) 832-0767
brookepomerantz.com
