Psychodynamic therapy for teens and young adults
I work with people who are figuring out who they are, where they’re going, and how to manage everything that comes with growing up and becoming your own person. Psychodynamic therapy gives us room to look at what’s happening now and what may be underneath it.
How I use it
Katie McHugh, LCSW
With psychodynamic work, I listen for patterns in your relationships, feelings, and reactions, and we think about what those patterns might be connected to. The work can be especially useful when the surface problem keeps showing up in different forms. I stay focused on your present experience and also pay attention to what it may be linked to underneath.
We pay attention to what current struggles may be echoing from earlier experiences.
Who it tends to suit
People often come in when a problem feels familiar but hard to explain. They may notice the same feelings, reactions, or relationship patterns showing up again and again, even when the details change. Sometimes they’ve already tried to think their way through it and still feel stuck. Psychodynamic work can help slow the pace enough to look at what’s being carried forward.
- I keep ending up in the same kind of situation.
- I know something is off, but I can’t explain it.
- Old stuff still seems to affect me now.
- I feel stuck in a pattern I don’t understand.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions focus on what brings you in now and what stands out in your story so far. We talk about the patterns you notice, what they feel like in daily life, and what you want to understand more clearly, without needing to have it all sorted before we start.
What I use it for
- AnxietyTeens and young adults with worry that keeps getting in the way.
- Self-DoubtTeens and young adults who keep second-guessing themselves.
- Relationship StressTeens and young adults stuck in tense or confusing relationships.
- Life ChangesTeens and young adults facing a big change and feeling unsettled.
Questions people ask
What do you talk about in psychodynamic therapy?
We talk about what’s happening now, the patterns that keep showing up, and what they may be connected to. The aim is to understand the shape of the problem more fully.
Is psychodynamic therapy just about my childhood?
No. We may look at earlier experiences if they seem relevant, but the focus is on how they show up in your life now.
Can this help with finding myself?
It can. A lot of this work is about understanding yourself more clearly, including the parts that feel confusing or hard to name.
Do you use psychodynamic therapy with young adults?
Yes, I do. It often fits when someone wants to understand why a pattern keeps repeating and what’s underneath it.
About Katie McHugh Psychotherapy
Katie McHugh offers therapy for teens in New York for anxiety, self-doubt, relationship stress, and life changes. My first session starts with what brings you in.
Talk it through with Katie
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.